Political analyst Herman Manyora has suggested ODM leader Raila Odinga could likely face off with businessman Jimmy Wanjigi for the 2022 presidency.
Manyora, in his weekly just-in-time analysis, argued that Deputy President William Ruto who recently said Raila is his most formidable competitor may withdraw from the presidential race before the next General Election.
“Jimmy Wanjigi will be facing ODM party leader Raila Odinga and I can assure you it will be a battle that will not produce an outright winner. There is going to be a runoff and in that case, Kenyans will decide,” Manyora stated.
He said in the event, Ruto will bow out of the race, the presidential race will be a battle between Raila and Wanjigi, a move he says would be difficult to produce a president in the first round hence could see a runoff where Kenyans will have to decide.
Manyora, a lecturer of communication and linguistics at University of Nairobi argued that with less than 13 months to the polls, there are several scenarios that would play out in the 2022 General Election and that none of which would favor the DP leaving Raila to battle it out with Wanjigi.
While castigating Ruto’s recent response on President Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly backing a candidate from the National Super Alliance (NASA) regime, Manyora said Ruto’s recent actions showed that he did not have the requisite numbers, comparing him to a soldier in his last gasp effort to go down in a fight.
Raila who is yet to declare his intentions to succeed retiring president Uhuru Kenyatta in his tour at the Coast region last week endorsed ODM deputy party leader Hassan Joho for a national seat.
Wanjigi on the other side has declared that he will be on the ballot in the 2022 presidential race.
