Home » List of 8 politicians who succeeded after dumping Raila Odinga

List of 8 politicians who succeeded after dumping Raila Odinga

by Enock Ndayala

Kenya’s longest-serving opposition leader Raila Odinga has on numerous occasions been praised for nurturing and uplifting a couple of politicians.

Most politicians have gone ahead to make tremendous contributions to the shaping of the country’s political space.

A number of these politicians have brushed shoulders with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party leader along the way and consequently abandoned him.

Kivumbi.co.ke has delved into some of those who exited from Raila’s political camp and have plausibly achieved more political mileage than they did under his leadership.

  1. Eliud Owalo

The 2013 presidential candidate chief campaigner Eliud Owalo has featured on the list proposed by President William Ruto for consideration into the cabinet.

Owalo fell out with Raila after the former Prime Minister lost to President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2013 presidential elections.

Owalo fell out with Raila after the former Prime Minister lost to President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2013 presidential elections.

After falling out with ODM, Owalo, an economist, Management consultant, and strategy expert joined ANC to seek the Kibra-parliamentary seat following the death of MP Ken Okoth but lost to Imran Okoth of ODM.

He later quit ANC in the run-up to the last elections and threw his weight behind William Ruto and singlehandedly spearheaded his presidential campaigns in the Nyanza region.

Owalo is on the brink of becoming the new Information Communication Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary in what many refer to as a dazzling rise.

2. William Ruto

In the run-up to the heated 2007 General Election, Kenya’s President William Ruto worked closely with ODM party leader Raila Odinga.

In the run-up to the heated 2007 General Election, Kenya’s President William Ruto worked closely with ODM party leader Raila Odinga.

Ruto, who was then supporting Raila Odinga, was among those who protested the Electoral Commission of Kenya’s presidential results declaring late Mwai Kibaki as the president-elect.

The former Eldoret North MP fell out with Raila in 2011 after the then-former Prime Minister suspended Ruto from the Agriculture Ministry over a multi-billion maize scandal.

Since falling out with the opposition leader, Ruto has exemplary scaled the political heights to become the Head of State.

Ruto was sworn in after he defeated his master Raila Odinga in the August 9, presidential elections after polling 7.1 million votes against Raila’s 6.9 million votes.

3. Aden Duale

Another case of politicians who have done well after ditching Odinga’s ship is Garissa Township MP Aden Duale.

Duale, cut ties with the opposition after continuous wrangles within the ODM party.

Duale, cut ties with the opposition after continuous wrangles within the ODM party.

Since his exit from Raila’s Orange party, Duale has successfully maintained his parliamentary seat and political popularity as the National Assembly majority leader.

Duale was earlier this week nominated in the list of 22 nominees to Cabinet announced by the President at State House.

4. Moses Wetang’ula

Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula fell out with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in 2018 after he was kicked out of the Senate Minority Leader position.

Since he parted ways with Raila, the ‘Papa wa Roma’ has gained political millage and is now the third most in command. Photo: Moses Wetang’ula/Twitter

This is despite the former Bungoma senator endorsing Raila’s presidential bid since 2013.

Since he parted ways with Raila, the ‘Papa wa Roma’ has gained political millage and is now the third most in command.

5. Musalia Mudavadi

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi fell out with ODM leader Raila Odinga after the dramatic 2017 presidential election.

Mudavadi has been in political cold for over a decade working with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party captain.

Mudavadi said that he parted ways with Raila together with other National Super Alliance (NASA) co-principles after they realised they were not reading from the same script as the former prime minister.

Mudavadi has been in political cold for over a decade working with the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party captain.

However, the former vice president is now poised to become the Prime Cabinet Secretary just months after his bitter fall out with Raila.

6. Aisha Jumwa

In 2018, former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa baffled both friends and foes after her outburst against ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Previously a staunch supporter of Odinga, Jumwa turned her back against him and threw her weight behind Raila’s political nemesis William Ruto in what many termed as a betrayal. Photo: Aisha Jumwa/Facebook

Previously a staunch supporter of Odinga, Jumwa turned her back against him and threw her weight behind Raila’s political nemesis William Ruto in what many termed as an act of betrayal.

On July 9, 2017, Aisha rallied support for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and secured a win for Odinga in Kilifi during the General Election.

However, since her fall out with the opposition leader, Jumwa’s political influence rose and has been proposed for a cabinet slot in President William Ruto’s government.

7. Ababu Namwamba

Former Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba had over two decades supported Raila Odinga’s political journey.

In the run-up to the August 9, presidential elections, Namwamba threw his weight behind UDA presidential candidate William Ruto.

However, in 2016, the former Secretary General of ODM parted ways with the party leader saying his 25 years of support for the Orange party had not benefited his community.

In the run-up to the August 9, presidential elections, Namwamba threw his weight behind UDA presidential candidate William Ruto.

He is now poised to become the next sports Cabinet Secretary if the National Assembly will approve his nominations to the cabinet.

8. Amason Kingi

Former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi is among Raila Odinga’s former loyalists who reaped big in the just proposed cabinet nominees by President William Ruto.

Former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi is among Raila Odinga’s former loyalists who reaped big in the just proposed cabinet nominees by President William Ruto. Photo: Amason Kingi/Twitter.

Kingi fell out with Raila just five months before the August 9, elections leading to his removal from the role of ODM Chairperson in Kilifi County.

He left ODM amid accusations of betrayal by Coast colleagues, who dropped plans to form a regional political party ahead of the 2022 General Election.

Just months after his fall out with Raila, the 48-year-old trained lawyer was elected as the 3rd speaker of Kenya’s Senate after 46 legislators voted for him during the house’s first sitting.

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