Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition, has denied reports suggesting that he is endorsing Kalonzo Musyoka, the leader of the Wiper Party, as the coalition’s presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election. Odinga’s spokesperson, Dennis Onyango, clarified on Monday that the compliments Odinga extended to Kalonzo should not be construed as the coalition’s official stance on the 2027 elections, as they are still four years away.
According to the statement, Odinga emphasized that his words of praise for Kalonzo Musyoka were not an endorsement for his candidacy in 2027. Instead, they were an acknowledgment and appreciation of Kalonzo’s past contributions, such as his unwavering support in three previous elections, his strong Christian values, and the widespread support he has garnered throughout the country.
Odinga conveyed the coalition’s commitment to providing equal opportunities to all potential presidential candidates, and the official announcement of the coalition’s candidate will only be made about a year before the 2027 elections.
The statement also reflected Odinga’s confidence in Kalonzo’s capabilities, asserting that he believes Kalonzo can defeat Hon. William Ruto in a fair and open presidential contest, contrary to Ruto’s recent claim that he could easily defeat Kalonzo.
Furthermore, Odinga assured the supporters of Azimio and the nation that he intends to remain actively engaged in party and national politics leading up to the 2027 elections.
This response came after Odinga accused President Ruto of attempting to divide the coalition by speculating on Kalonzo’s candidacy for 2027 during a recent event. Odinga emphasized their support for Kalonzo and disapproved of Ruto’s attempts to undermine him.
On October 8, President Ruto claimed that Odinga owed him a political debt and suggested that Odinga should support him in the 2027 General Elections. He even mentioned the possibility of running alongside Kalonzo Musyoka if Odinga did not support him.