Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's allies have emphasized that he will not be endorsing anyone for the presidency until he gets a chance to serve as president.
The allies led by Raila's eldest brother, Oburu Odinga, on Saturday, February 27, also hinted that the ODM leader's name will be on the ballot in the 2022 General Election.
Oburu who was speaking at the burial of Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati's mother Selina Nasike, asked former National Super Alliance (Nasa) leaders to back his younger brother’s presidential quest instead of grumbling about the 2017 General Election.
“Raila will only give the presidency to any of the Luhya leaders after he has served his term,” noted Oburu.
The East African Legislative Assembly lawmaker stated that there is no better time for Raila to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta than in the forthcoming general elections.
He asked Musalia Mudavadi of Amani National Congress, Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper party and Moses Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya to stop daydreaming because that is what they were doing when asking for Raila's endorsement.
"Some people are asking for Raila to endorse them. Raila did not get the presidency. How do you leave to somebody what you don't have?" Oburu said.
According to the Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, Raila is the only one who understands the county's problems, and would therefore be able to fix them if elected.
“Raila will ensure he implements the initiatives he wanted but were ignored by the regimes that were in power,” Odhiambo said.
Supporting Oburu's sentiments, Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga advised Mudavadi and Wetang’ula to support Raila’s bid for the presidency to increase their chances of taking the mantle from him when he retires.
“Let Raila complete the food he has been cooking while fighting for the second liberation. He is almost crossing over to Canaan and therefore we should not stand in his way, but instead support his presidential bid,” the Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti also said.
ANC nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi told Mudavadi and Wetang’ula to respect Raila and stop abusing him in funerals in their quest to be endorsed for the presidency.
“We the Luhya people respect Raila for fighting for the second liberation and multiparty democracy. He is better placed to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta,” said Osotsi.
Sabot MP Caleb Amisi and ANC nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi also told Mudavadi and Wetangu'la that if they want to be president, they should sell their own manifestos instead of waiting for Raila's endorsement.
Raila has in the past said that he will officially declare his candidature as soon as the Constitution Amendment Bill (2020) is complete and that no one can intimidate him into submission when he is not ready.
