Why Raila is The Unifying Factor in Mount Kenya

The fresh Presidential election was held on October 26 and a few days later, President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the President-elect.

Raila Odinga-led National Super Alliance (NASA) boycotted the polls citing several irregularities that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had not addressed prior to the poll.

Since the declaration of Kenyatta as the winner, several debates have emerged regarding the voter turn-out and the Opposition has maintained that the figures were cooked.

[caption caption="File Photo of Raila Odinga in Kiambu"][/caption]

President Kenyatta garnered 7.4 million votes according to the results released by IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati which was around 1 million less the number he got during the nullified August polls.

According to the CEO of African Policy Institute, Prof Peter Kagwanja, if Odinga does not vie in 2022, the voter turn-out will even be lower.

Kagwanja was speaking during an interview on NTV where he stated that most people in Mount Kenya region come out to vote to ensure Odinga does not win.

"Raila is the single unifying factor in Mount Kenya. If he doesn’t vie 2022, there'll be a very low voter turnout," remarked Kagwanja.

His sentiments have been constantly echoed by political activists in the country who claim that the recent low voter turnout can be attributed to Odinga pulling out of the polls.

Electoral officers, however, maintain that there was a false sense of a low voter turnout because the process was faster compared to the August 8 General Election in which Kenyans voted for leaders for six different posts.

Odinga is yet to declare whether he will vie in 2022 with recent reports suggesting co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka is unsure if he will be given the chance to vie for the Presidency as per their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

[caption caption="NASA Co-Principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka"][/caption]