Tycoon Jimmy Wanjigi is set to battle for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Presidential ticket with his longtime ally Raila Odinga.
Other than facing Raila Odinga on the ballot, Wanjigi eyes the ODM party leadership position which he intends to use to propel his presidential ticket.
“ I will be running for the ODM ticket and will be taking on Raila Odinga, and that will be my presidential ticket. As an ODM life member, I have what it takes to lead the party and the country into the future,” Jimi Wanjigi told the Daily Nation.
The billionaire, who has for a long time been financing the ODM party campaigns is set to give Raila Odinga a run for his money.
After declaring that he will contest for the presidential ticket, Jimi Wanjigi is popularising his candidature and has even started to print caps and T-shirts for his campaigns.
Even though Raila has not officially announced that he will be contesting the top seat, he has given enough hints that he will be in the race by the manner in which he is tackling his would-be main opponent, William Ruto.
On June 7, Raila Odinga listed his economic framework that is meant to counter DP Ruto’s Bottom-up approach.
Jimi Wanjigi’s entry into the race has increased the number of politicians eyeing the ODM Presidential ticket.
Other than the party leader, ODM’s deputy Party leaders Ali Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya have also declared that they will be contesting for the party’s presidential ticket.
After serving Mombasa and Kakamega counties for two terms respectively, the two have a bigger dream of taking over their boss to become presidents.
However, Party members are not impressed by Joho and Oparanya’s intentions to contest against Raila Odinga.
On his part, Raila has not opposed their presidential ambitions, he said that ODM is a democratic party and it is ok for them to contest for the presidency as it is within their rights.
