Raila rubbishes claims of 2022s presidency run

Raila rubbishes claims of 2022s presidency run

In a candid interview with Citizen TV on Wednesday, December 27, leader of opposition Raila Odinga dismissed claims that he would be vying for the presidency in 2022.

He told Citizen TV’s Editorial Director Joe Ageyo that he would have already made his intentions clear if he was eyeing Uhuru Kenyatta’s succession.

During the interview, Raila who was recently appointed as a special envoy to the United Nations claimed that his pact with President Uhuru had been misunderstood.

“I have said it several times. If I was going to run, then I would have said it, but I have not said it…other people are saying Raila is going to be a candidate and that Uhuru is trying to make Raila a candidate. Uhuru has not said anything, neither have I,” Raila told Citizen TV.

Earlier in the year, a smattering of opposition leaders led by minority leader John Mbadi and Junet Mohamed had claimed that Raila was still ODM’s choice for the 2022 race.

The opposition leader explained that it would be out of order for him to make his supporters believe that he would be on the ballot in 2022.

He added that starting the Uhuru Kenyatta succession debate at this point would wreak havoc on president Uhuru’s Big 4 Agenda and plunge the country into a premature campaign mood.

“You understand if I start campaigning now, then this country will be in a campaign mood from tomorrow and nobody will be talking about the Big Four agenda. Do you want to bring the country in a campaign mood this early?” Raila added.

Raila’s comment came hot in the wake of Ugunja MP James Opiyo Wandayi’s concern that the Raila-Uhuru handshake had been taken off context.

The legislator scoffed at politicians who were advancing a narrative that Raila was using the handshake to further his 2022 political ambitions.

“His excellency Raila Odinga has said he is not concerned with the elections of 2022 and is not involved in the premature campaigns. He wants to be given a break. Why do you insist on candidacy of an individual who is not on the table?” Wandayi posed.

 

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handshake CORD Leader Raila 2022 election

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