Raila Odinga Eyes 2027 Presidency To Unseat William Ruto: "Just Register"

• Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga urged youths to register in numbers and join the ODM party
• The former prime minister stated he would make a decision to take a sixth stab at the presidency after seeing the progress of registration
• Local leaders maintained calls for Raila to vie as others fronted former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya as his running mate

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Kakamega - Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga has given intent on taking a sixth stab at the presidency.

During the ongoing ODM mass recruitment in Shinyalu constituency on Friday, December 1, the veteran politician rallied youths to register and join the party.

Raila explained that most youths were not mature enough to join the party during the previous registration, but they had now come of age.

The former premier asked the charged crowd whether he should continue with active politics and vie in the 2027 General Election.

After getting a unanimous call not to retire, the former prime minister said he would consider their desire if they registered to join ODM.

"Have we understood each other well? Are the youth ready? Should the Baba continue or not? When you register and join the party, I will consider it. If you join the party properly, I will consider. Alright?" Raila said.

Calls for Raila to vie in 2027

During the rally, speaker after speaker implored the ODM leader to make his sixth attempt at the presidency in 2027.

Butere MP Tindi Nicholas Mwale urged Raila to vie in 2027, adding that former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya should be his running mate.

Kakamega deputy governor Ayub Savula dismissed talks that Raila was too old, adding that he was more than capable.

George Bodo's perspective

According to diehard supporter George Bodo, Raila still stands an unarguable chance to become president, presumably in 2027, despite his age working to his detriment.

He, however, argued that the outcome of the presidential vote was a conspiracy by unnamed quarters against Raila's candidature.

Despite the turn of events, Bodo tells this writer that all is not lost for the longstanding opposition leader because "he still enjoys considerable support from across Kenya."

After all, a "paltry" 200,000 votes separated him from Ruto, Bodo argues.

"The struggle is still on. We are waiting to see how they (Ruto and his team) will govern this country. So far so good. There might never be much to expect from the incoming administration, but let's wait and witness their style of governance," he said.