ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has claimed that party leader Raila Odinga's presidential bid is necessitated by overwhelming pressure from Kenyans who want him to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, Sifuna stated that the former premier had shelved his presidential ambitions and was only forced to contest due to requests by Kenyans of different political camps.
“Raila took the position that he wasn’t going to run if Kenyans told him that they were done with him or that they were tired," he said.
Read More
"The response, which was not just from members of ODM; we had friends from FORD-Kenya, Jubilee Party, Tangatanga… was that people have faith in him and he should take another stab at the presidency,” he added.
The sentiments come at a time when Odinga is expected to declare his presidential bid at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on December 10, 2021.
“Our expectation is that Raila will listen to the desires of Kenyans and announce on December 10 that he has heeded to the call by Kenyans to give it another try,” Sifuna added.
He, however, downplayed talks of Odinga's preferred running mate saying that the party did not want to rush things.
“He has not shared his thoughts yet.
"The issue of running mates is not a discussion of today nor the 10th because there is a lot of consideration that goes into a deputy," Sifuna said.
