ODM Party leader Raila Odinga has remained silent on his political future whilst reiterating the need for unity. Do you think he will be on the ballot gain in 2022? Well, he is very unpredictable. Many have speculated that the handshake between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta was aimed at creating some political positions through the looming referendum, but do you think that is the case?
However, should Raila show interests in the topmost political seat come 2022, his ambitions will be determined by his two deputy party leaders, the Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho who have both shown interests in the statehouse job.
This is after ODM Party confirming that they will be holding party primaries to determine their presidential candidate. This means should Raila contest, he will have to battle out with Oparanya and Joho in the primaries.
On Sunday, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna welcomed Oparanya’s interest in the presidential ticket, saying the party espouses internal democracy.
“We’re a democratic party. Anybody who wants to run for president is free to seek the party ticket when the right time comes. ODM has a robust mechanism to pick its presidential candidate,” he said.
Sifuna sought to allay fears that its top brass could block Oparanya’s bid for the ticket. He maintained that the party had a history of holding primaries in the presidential ticket race.
“This is not the first time people are expressing their intention to get the ODM party ticket. That has happened before,” he said.
Surprisingly, a number of MPs who spoke to the Star said they would back Oparanya in his race to State House.
Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe of Jubilee Party said Oparanya is “ripe and competent to be President”.
“We shall give Oparanya maximum support in 2022. He is fit and has the necessary experience and track record,” he said.
Wangwe said the second-term governor should now focus on building alliances outside his Western Kenya backyard to enhance his political bargaining power.
“What Oparanya should do is sit at the negotiating table. Bring together other leaders from the region as well … If Oparanya does not make it to State House, he should lead Western Kenya into the next government.”
Oparanya is seen as one of the pioneer governors with remarkable development records. He has built a multi-billion-shilling referral hospital, upgraded Bukhungu Stadium, constructed modern markets in all the 12 sub counties and built at least 14 bridges, including the famous Khaunga Bridge, the longest in the Western region.