Even though Raila Odinga lost the 2022 elections, according to former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party vice-chairperson Kipruto arap Kirwa, there is still hope for him in the 2027 general election.
Speaking to K24 TV on Wednesday morning, Kirwa, who ditched President William Ruto’s UDA in May for the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition party, claimed that despite his advanced age, the former prime minister will be a formidable opponent in the upcoming elections.
He noted that for one to be elected president, they need not be energetic but be in touch with the peoples plight.
“I would be hesitant to write the obituary of any politician. I know one man in Africa called Abdoulaye Wade who became the president of Senegal (aged 74) after trying for 35 years. Raila may be 81 or 82 in the next election. This therefore means he is still formidable. To be elected you do not need to be so energetic, you just need to be present and be in tune with the wishes of the people,” he said.
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Kirwa further mentioned Kenya’s challenging economic environment as a factor that, if ignored by his administration, might work against President Ruto.
This, he claimed, might work in Raila’s favor if he decides to run for president a sixth time.
“The way I see the next five years – and I wish my brother Dr. William Ruto well – is that the debt burden by 2025 will be high, unemployment will be high, the policy of bottom-up he has to be very ingenious to improve in terms of financial discipline,” said Kirwa.
“The hope that the people of Kenya have in him, especially the young population, is so overwhelming that it can turn into some sort of backlash and so Raila is still in this town and we never measure somebody’s life by the extent of his age.”
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Asked why he moved camps in the last minute, the former minister for Agriculture said it was because his beliefs did not align with those of the ruling party.
“In politics, when you feel uncomfortable about the environment under which you are operating, you are forced to bolt out of it. I did so not because of any disagreement with the current president, but I realized I was in a team of individuals whose school I don’t belong to,” Kirwa said.
He added: “I don’t regret whatsoever the decision I took. Possibly there could have been benefits on the other side, but that was not the consideration.”
After moving camps, Kirwa said he left the Hustler party because there was lack of democracy in the National Executive Council (NEC).
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“I left the party because my conscience and principles could not have allowed me to continue when it appeared I was not needed,” he told The Standard.
He added that his breaking point was the naming of former Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua as the presidential running mate.
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