Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday endorsed his former arch-rival for the country’s number one job, weeks after their parties joined forces ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in August.
Speaking to a cheering crowd numbering thousands in the capital Nairobi on Saturday, Kenyatta declared; ‘We have chosen Raila Odinga without any opposition to be the fifth president of Kenya.’
This announcement actually brings together two of Kenya’s top political dynasties, who have a long history of opposing each other at the ballot box.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that in 2018, Kenyatta and Odinga shocked the country when they shook hands and declared a truce after post-election violence in 2017 left dozens of people dead.
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Last month, Kenyatta’s Jubilee party announced that it would join the Azimio la Umoja (Quest for Unity) coalition headed by Odinga.
On Saturday, Kenyatta declared his backing for the veteran opposition leader, saying: ‘We don’t have any doubt that we have a team captain in Raila Amolo Odinga.’
Odinga, 77, responded, saying that the pair’s journey from bitter electoral rivals to political partners ‘has been the most unlikely in the history of our country.’
He went on to add that, ‘I accept the nomination with absolute gratitude and dedication to our people’.
This announcement is actually coming after Kenyatta’s previously anointed successor William Ruto, who also intends to contest the presidential election, was sacked from Jubilee.
Ruto, 54, was initially anointed by Kenyatta as his successor but found himself marginalised after the 2018 pact between the president and his former foe.
Ruto has positioned himself as a leader looking to upend the status quo and stand up for the ‘hustlers’ trying to survive in a country ruled by ‘dynasties’ — a reference to the Kenyatta and Odinga families which have dominated politics for decades.
The East African powerhouse has traditionally been ruled by presidents from the dominant Kikuyu tribe like Kenyatta or the Kalenjin tribe like Ruto.
This year’s contest is shaping up to be a two-horse race between Ruto and Odinga, who belong to the Luo tribe.
A former political prisoner and prime minister, Odinga has secured the support of at least 26 parties that are now part of the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK