The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga is taking no chances in the Kibra parliamentary by-election that is shaping to be a race between him and Deputy President William Ruto.
Kibra Constituency has been Raila’s political stronghold for the last two decades and a loss would be a big blow to his national image as a formidable politician.
Loosing two by-elections that were highly considered ODM’s could have opened the eyes of Raila Odinga.
The ODM boss has personally reached out to people including the candidates who lost in the Kibra ODM nomination to back the ODM candidate Imran Okoth.
Raila fully committed and even gone ahead to even launching a door to door campaign to ensure Imran wins the Kibra by-election unlike the last two elections the party lost in Ugenya and Embakasi South since he did not get involved.
According to the University of Nairobi history lecturer Macharia Munene, Raila’s followers are not many as they used to be earlier so his strong magnetism is wearing out and the Kibra by-election is the only way he can prove his political stability.
“Raila’s following is no longer as big as it used to be. His magnetism is wearing out and the Kibra seat contest appears to be fluid. If he loses, that would be a message that he is on the way out of the minds of people,” opined Macharia Munene,
Raila is fully involved in the campaigns and literally started coordinating the ODM campaign machine when it became clear that Ruto was pushing McDonald Mariga to vie for Kibra seat in Jubilee ticket with one aim of spoiling for the ODM candidate and Raila.
Raila is not taking chances in Kibra since the ODM party has lost in the three parliamentary contests since last elections, slicing the number of its elected MPs from 62 to 59.
With 2022 metrics in the offing, the former premier will be looking to ensure that his game remains above bar since Deputy President William Ruto will be out trying to use Kibra by-election as a litmus paper to his 2022 ambitions.
Incase Ruto, through Mariga triumphs, then Raila’s plans for 2022 will have been thrown into a disaray.