ODM leader Raila Odinga unexpectedly showed up at the birthday party of Kiambu man who had invited him via the text message.
Last week, Gideon Gitonga Gachuki who was turning 22, picked Raila’s phone number on social media and invited the opposition chief to grace his birthday party over the weekend, which he obviously never expected that the presidential hopeful will honor.
Without confirming his attendance, the former Prime Minister honoured the rare invitation by the young man who has expressed his ambitions to become area Member of County Assembly on an ODM ticket.
To his surprise, Raila stealthily drove into the compound in a small car as opposed to his normal convoy of cars bringing the village to a standstill before he was joined by Kiambu County Governor James Nyoro.
Speaking at the event, Raila Odinga dismissed claims of harbouring enmity with the Mt Kenya region.
“I want to form a partnership with you. I don’t want to leave anyone lagging behind. This time we will move shoulder to shoulder. I want us to work together in 2022,” he said.
Raila’s surprise visit to Kiambu comes at a time when 2022 presidential aspirants are scrambling to get a share of the Mt Kenya region’s huge voting bloc.
It is speculated that such a move would increase Raila Odinga’s support in the area given that no presidential candidate has been able to visit the area without an official invitation.
Deputy President William Ruto, ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi are among presidential candidates seeking to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in August 2022 and have been pitching tent in the vote-rich region, selling their ideas.
This is due to the fact that the region which has dictated who becomes the Head of State in past elections appears to head into a General Election for the first time without a formidable presidential candidate since the advent of multi-party democracy in early 90s.
