Governance and Political expert Fred Ogola has exuded confidence that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will still be the one to fly the opposition flag in the 2027 presidential election.
“The most likely presidential candidate for Azimio in 2027 will still be Raila Odinga unless he changes his mind,” Ogola said.
In an interview with KTN News on Friday, September 29, Ogola said in politics, the age factor and skin color do not necessarily play out in determining the presidential flag bearer.
While likening the presidential flag bearer contest to a love relationship, the scholar said that the last assignment usually has a bigger impact in determining the coalition’s flag bearer.
“The last time Kalonzo vied as president he got 900k votes while Raila’s last attempt got 6.9 million votes. In politics just like in a love relationship, the last assignment matters a lot,” he said.
Ogola reminisced a situation that saw Raila Odinga declared Presidential candidate in the 2007 General Election adding that opinion polls were also not a major factor in settling a candidate.
He cited a 2007 incident in which Raila defeated Kalonzo Musyoka saying that local and international public relations, following, and money usually play a lot in determining the presidential candidate.
Kalonzo shelved his 2017, and 2022 presidential ambitions in favor of ODM leader Raila Odinga in the reward that the former Premier will endorse Musyoka’s 2027 bid.
Allies of Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka led by Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi told the Azimio brigade to rally behind Musyoka in 2027 to reciprocate his effort in backing Odinga for many years.
“This time round Odinga should honorably and unconditionally pave the way for Kalonzo to take the lead in the 2027 presidential race as a way of reciprocating what he had sacrificed for all the years,” said Mwangangi.
