Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has assured the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party members and supporters that the outfit will field a presidential candidate in the 2027 presidential election.
Mr Odinga's announcement has thrown into disarray speculation that ODM would form a merger or coalition with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party ahead of the next General Election.
“When the elections come in 2027, ODM will be the party to form the next government. But it is only possible if our supporters are well prepared because we have a manifesto, we have faith and we have the capacity and strength,” Raila said.
The former premier who was speaking in Vihiga County during a thanksgiving ceremony for Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, following his nomination as the ODM deputy party leader, affirmed that the Orange party will have a presidential candidate on the ballot in the next polls.
"Even though I am set to clinch the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, my interest in Kenya's leadership cannot be wished away," he said.
He emphasised the need to strengthen ODM across all counties, saying the party's power is the weapon to 'win a government in a democratic governance'.
"I am set for the big task of winning the AUC chairmanship to streamline the politics of African nations, but Kenya remains in my heart."
He tasked those holding leadership positions in ODM to expand its space in the country's politics by grabbing swinging counties that are not strongholds of either ODM or UDA parties.
"In Kenya, ODM commands its dominance in Nyanza, Western, Coast and North Eastern. UDA is big in Rift Valley and parts of Central. The remaining regions are swinging and we have to wrap them under the ODM dominance," he said.
"I am nurturing young leaders to take over the leadership of the party. That is why I nominated Mr Osotsi and Simba Arati to hold the office of the deputy party leader. With the youthful leadership in place, ODM will continue to prosper," he said.
Siaya Governor James Orengo, Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma and his Kisii counterpart Arati, declared that ODM will form the next government.
Mr Orengo said they were confident that Mr Odinga will win the AUC chairmanship but their party must field a presidential candidate in the next elections.
Mr Arati said his focus is to see the presidency moving to the Western region of Kenya with an ODM President.
“This thing is being enjoyed by only two communities. It is time we bring it to the Western Kenya region. That is why I am working closely with my neighbours from the Western region to craft a possible union that will grab the seat to this part of the country,” said Mr Arati.
Mr Odinga criticised members of the National Assembly for pushing for reduced allocation to the counties, accusing the legislators of being used to kill devolution.
He said those who were opposed to the passage of the 2010 Constitution were using Parliament to derail devolution.
"County governments were supposed to get 30 percent of the shareable revenue but they ended up with 15 percent. This (15 percent) was supposed to increase with time but some people are fighting to starve counties," he claimed.
Using his kitendawili trademark, Mr Odinga said ‘traps’ Mr Gachagua allegedly set up in government to keep him from a possible collaboration with President William Ruto ended up trapping the impeached DP himself.
“He said there would be no handshake or no government of nusu mkate. He boasted of setting up traps around the State House. Where is he now?” he added amid cheers from the crowd.
After winning in the 2022 presidential race, Mr Gachagua, then deputy president, announced that he had set in motion mechanisms to ensure Mr Odinga did not ‘sneak’ into the Kenya Kwanza government through the ‘backdoor’.
ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga asked Mr Gachagua to 'sit back and feel the pain Mr Odinga has been feeling while in the opposition'.
“Running an opposition against the government is not easy. Gachagua used to attack Raila, shooting at his cars with live bullets. The shoe has turned and today, he is the one being pelted and chased away by the government. Warm up yourself and know that the rough journey has just begun and it is not ending any time soon,” she said referring to the recent incident where Mr Gachagua’s entourage was pelted with stones by goons who disrupted a funeral in Limuru.
Mr Osotsi used the opportunity to declare his interest in the gubernatorial race to replace Governor Wilbur Ottichilo who is in his final term.
