Wiper leader, Kalonzo Musyoka, has for the third time in a row endorsed the presidential bid of his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila Odinga.
During a rally at the famous Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi's Embakasi area, Kalonzo stated that he heeded the calls by Kenyans to back Raila.
This is the third time the Wiper leader is endorsing Raila having backed him in the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.
"Na kwa mara ya tatu na sema Raila Tosha (for the third time, I have agreed to back Raila)," stated Kalonzo.
Kalonzo who was speaking at Jacaranda Grounds on Saturday, March 12, explained that he also considered the age factor between him and Odinga before putting aside his own ambitions.
“Kusema kweli, mimi nilikuwa tayari kabisa, na nadhani bado niko tayari. Lakini tunaangalia umri (To be honest I was ready and I still think I am read. However, we looked at the age factor),” the Wiper leader stated.
“Ndugu Raila tumetoka mbali, tumekula teargas. Tulianza LDP, alafu ODM Kenya, NARC, CORD hadi NASA… Kwa roho safi, Raila Amolo Odinga tosha!”
"Today we have formed a grand coalition named Azimio-One Kenya and we have three key pillars; Jubilee's pillar, OKA pillar and ODM's pillar,” he added.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on his part congratulated Musyoka for supporting Odinga and acknowledged his selflessness for the betterment of the country.
“So many people have shelved their own ambitions because they want to see Kenya uniting and one of those people is my brother Kalonzo Musyoka.
"He has decided to set aside his own ambitions because of our country, Kenya, please let us acknowledge him for that because that is bravery. We thank him very much," the president stated.
Raila Odinga also thanked Kalonzo and other leaders for their support. He stated that the Azimio Convention would not have been possible without the March 2018 handshake with President Kenyatta. He also pledged to work with his coalition partners.
"I want to pay gratitude to all of you who are here today, who have made a decision to nominate me as your candidate in the coming election. I accept the nomination by Azimio La Umoja to vie for the President of the Republic of Kenya in the August 2022 elections."
