Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has declined calls to endorse Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka or his ANC counterpart Musalia Mudavadi for the 2022 presidency.
Speaking at a funeral service in Bungoma County over the weekend, the ODM leader who exuded confidence in succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta said he will support former National Super Alliance (NASA) principals once he ascends to power.
“We are going to bring economic revolution while in power before passing the mantle to someone else,” he said.
Raila further stated that he will only retire from active politics after delivering the country from its economic burdens brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Raila’s statement comes in the backdrop of recommendations by certain quarters that he should endorse one of his erstwhile co-principals to battle it out with Deputy President William Ruto for the 2022 presidency.
Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka supported Raila in the 2017 presidential race under the now-defunct NASA on the condition that the opposition chief would back one of them for the top seat in the 2022 elections.
In June, Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana set the records straight that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s handshake partner was to support ex-NASA principals if he won in 2017.
Kivutha who has expressed his ambitions to succeed retiring president Uhuru Kenyatta said he witnessed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by NASA principals which clearly stated the condition under which Raila was to endorse Kalonzo or Mudavadi for the 2022 presidency.
“I witnessed an agreement between Raila Odinga and Stephen Kalonzo detailing that Raila would support Kalonzo (Musyoka) in 2022 if NASA won in 2017 and it was intact until 2022,” Kibwana said.
He further argued that the MoU that was signed by the four NASA principals (Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi, and Moses Wetang’ula) stated that it was not mandatory for Raila to support Kalonzo or Mudavadi but would only support one of the three remaining principals.
“Previously, the NASA chiefs had signed a similar MOU: Raila would support one under NASA if he won,” Kivutha added.
