A section of leaders within the ODM Party leadership want Opposition leader Raila Odinga to cut political ties with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, whom they describe as baggage that keeps on having the ODM leader’s political fortunes dwindling.
An ODM lawmaker from Nyanza who spoke to this writer on condition of anonymity says Mr. Odinga’s core supporters across the country generally feel the former president offers little to no political capital, not only to the Azimio Coalition but also to their movement, ODM.
“If he (Uhuru) genuinely wanted us to lead after his presidency today Raila would be president. Whatever we are witnessing is absurd…and it could either be by design or just sheer lack of political tact,” she said, adding that a number of her colleagues share same sentiments.
The MP notes that a continuous camaraderie between the two (Uhuru and Raila) is likely to further disorient Raila’s supporters in the face of ongoing massive UDA recruitment, especially in ODM bases.
”Show me a video of Uhuru drumming up support for Raila in Mt Kenya last year, just one? Mentioning him by name. None. It is not a genuine friendship, that is our general feeling and we want Baba out.”
On Monday evening, Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Odinga held a meeting with a section of leaders from the Mt Kenya region.
Jubilee party deputy organising secretary in a statement over the meeting said the two Azimio leaders met her party’s officials from Kiambu county.
“H.E Uhuru Kenyatta and Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga meeting Jubilee leaders from Kiambu County, and other party leaders this evening,” she said in a message on her X platform.
On Tuesday, political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi suggested Raila Odinga’s loss at the 2022 presidential vote was calculated and those in the latter’s fold at the time might have had a hand in his setback.
Azimio is DEAD. It was the BIG CON of our political history. Raila should FOCUS on ODM because Jubilee is also DEAD. This is what he should tell Uhuru: "..Nothing Personal, JUST business". Uhuru and Kikuyus are just MISUSING Babaman. FACT.
— Mutahi Ngunyi (@MutahiNgunyi) December 11, 2023
The political strategist also implicated retired president Uhuru Kenyatta in Raila’s loss, saying Uhuru pulled off the biggest political fraud in Kenya’s history.
