Raila Tosha – Kalonzo Musyoka Declares

Jubilee Party contender for Nairobi governor’s seat Richard Ngatia said Raila’s nomination was good for Azimio aspirants vying for other seats, the social sector and business community who support him.

By Adieri Mulaa

Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga is the Azimio grand coalition presidential nominee for the August 9 General Election.

In Raila, President Uhuru Kenyatta has through his political wits successfully endorsed his Handshake partner as his heir apparent, after four years of cooperation between the head of state and the opposition leader.

On Saturday March 12, 2022, One Kenya Alliance (OKA), Azimio La Umoja movement and over 22 constituent political parties unanimously resolved to nominate Odinga aka Baba following intricate negotiations steered by President Kenyatta.

Reports indicated the negotiations involved long hours of grandstanding, hardline give and take conditions, which threatened to derail the talks held in Karen and State House.

“Today, we are here to announce our team captain. We have a team leader in the name of Raila Amolo Odinga”, President Kenyatta announced to anxious Azimio La Umoja and OKA joint national delegates convention (NDC) at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

Addressing the NDC, a gratified Raila pledged not let Kenyans down if elected president.

“I am indebted to my brother Kalonzo Musyoka, Kanu party leader Gideon Moi, Kitui governor Charity Ngilu, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, Makueni governor Kivutha Kibwana, Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Machakos governor Alfred Mutua and the entire team for agreeing to back me as the Azimio flag bearer”, he said.

Kalonzo’s “Raila tosha” declaration at the Jakaranda Grounds rekindled memories of “yote yawezekana bila Moi” by joint opposition leaders in 2002, after Raila Odinga declared “Kibaki Tosha” at Uhuru Park.

The historical declaration triggered national political euphoria which ended President Daniel arap Moi’s Kanu regime when Mwai Kibaki was elected president on the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) ticket.

At a joint rally later in the afternoon at the Jakaranda Grounds, Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka electrified the large crowd when he said: “My fellow Kenyans, in good faith, I declare Raila Odinga tosha for the third time”.

“I will back my brother Raila Odinga for the third time. We will now proceed under Azimio – OKA with Raila as the presidential candidate and I will traverse the country campaigning for him to be elected the 5th president”, the former Vice President asserted, amid chants and ululations.

Richard Ngatia, a leading Jubilee Party contender for Nairobi governor’s seat said Raila’s nomination as the Azimio flag bearer was good for aspirants vying for other seats, the social sector and the business community who support him.

Ngatia who spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the NDC said it was the wish of President Kenyatta and Baba to bring all Kenyans together to speak with one voice.

“That way, we will have a unified Kenya, a solid country and a stronger Kenya moving forward”, he told reporters.

President Kenyatta thanked the Wiper leader for shelving his presidential ambition to back Odinga’s candidacy for the sake of the country’s unity as a winning team.

Kalonzo noted that the three pillar political formation comprising, OKA, Jubilee and ODM would form the next government.

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