Raila’s Kalonzo Endorsement Sparks Unforeseen Battle – Warns MP Yusuf Hassan
Yusuf Hassan, member of parliament for Kamukunji, believes there will be unrest in the opposition party if Raila Odinga supports Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as the coalition’s presidential candidate.
This comes after it was reported that Mr. Odinga endorsed the Wiper leader as the coalition’s candidate for the 2027 general election.
Mr. Odinga, in Hassan’s estimation, is a towering figure in the nation’s opposition, and transferring power to Kalonzo as quickly as possible will place the wiper leader on a precipice.
According to the lawmaker, Raila plays a pivotal role in Kenyan politics, and he should be cautious about the decisions he makes between now and the next election cycle, given the possibility that he may put up his political boots.
“If the declaration was right I think it would have damaged the opposition and would it will open up a fight which Kalonzo is not ready for at the moment,” he said speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show on Thursday.
“If it is true that he is thinking of stepping down then it puts the whole opposition in limbo of what it is like to be contending in the next elections without the powerful figure of Raila being behind it.”
In addition to the opposition, he added, Mr. Odinga’s party, the Orange Democratic Movement, which he claims has carried the firebrand’s DNA since its inception, will also be in purgatory.
“I cannot imagine ODM existing in a very strong position in Kenyan politics without Raila. I cannot imagine the opposition without a torchbearer like Raila,” said Hassan.
ALSO READ:
- Safaricom Seals M-Pesa Cash Unit Acquisition for Ksh149
- Kuria Points Finger: Gachagua Accused in Meru Governor’s Troubles
- Land Scam Schemes: Kenyan Fraudsters’ Devious Tactics
“Raila is the patriarch of Kenyan politics, he is also the baron of the opposition. So what he says and how he says it carries a lot of weight in our country and I think a lot of people are saying does this mean that Raila is going to step back from politics.”
Mr. Odinga has denied the reports that he endorsed Kalonzo, arguing that the praise for the Wiper leader should not be interpreted as the party’s stance on its political ambitions for 2027, given that the elections are four years away.
Raila instead stated that he defended Kalonzo after President William Ruto allegedly attempted to divide the coalition by falsely speculating about Kalonzo’s candidacy in 2027.
“He is speaking about Kalonzo Musyoka as if they are equals, he (Musyoka)is far better than him (Ruto),” said Odinga during Siaya senator Oburu Oginga’s birthday celebration in Bondo.
“He wants to divide us with talk about who will run for the presidency, yet we have not announced anything. We will show him he knows nothing; we will stand with Kalonzo because he is an honest person.”
Odinga, on the other hand, is confident that President Ruto will have no chance against Kalonzo if they both vie for office.
Raila’s Kalonzo Endorsement Sparks Unforeseen Battle – Warns MP Yusuf Hassan
