Raila Odinga expected to declare 2022 presidential candidacy at convention

A former president, diplomats and elected leaders are among the dignitaries expected at Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s convention today, whose highlight will be the declaration of his entry into next year’s presidential race and launch of the Azimio la Umoja (Declaration of Unity) Movement.

More than 60,000 invited guests are expected at the event, whose venue is Kasarani stadium in Nairobi, according to the meeting’s organisers.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, a friend of Mr Odinga, will be at the convention, the organisers say.

Conspicuously missing from the meeting will be One Kenya Alliance (OKA) leaders.

Received invitation

OKA consists of Wiper Democratic Movement, led by Kalonzo Musyoka, Amani National Congress (ANC), of Musalia Mudavadi, Mr Gideon Moi’s Kanu, Ford Kenya led by Moses Wetang’ula,  and United Democratic Party (UDP), led by Cyrus Jirongo.

The principals said they would allow Mr Odinga to have his day as they plan to launch their alliance.

Mr Mudavadi told the Daily Nation by phone that he received an invitation but would not make it to the meeting due to personal engagements.

“I know it is a big day for Azimio la Umoja, but I’ll be handling other matters,” the ANC leader said.

“We wish them well. It’s of course expected that Raila will be declaring his intention to gun for the presidency. It’s his constitutional right.”

Wiper vice-chairman, Mutula Kilonzo Jr, said Mr Musyoka would not be at Kasarani stadium as he is in Juba, South Sudan.

“Since this is a culmination of consultations, which we were not part of, we have passed our congratulatory messages to Azimio la Umoja, but we will not be there. We will focus on our launch as OKA,” Mr Kilonzo said.

Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat was non-committal when asked if Mr Moi would be at today’s event or if the party would be represented.

“Chama kitarudisha mkono (the party will return favour). Let’s leave it at that,” Mr Moi, who is also the Baringo senator, said in reference to Mr Odinga’s attending the Kanu National Delegates Conference (NDC) at Bomas of Kenya on September 30.

The ODM leader also attended the Wiper NDC on November 25.

Mr Wetang’ula said he received an invitation to the meeting “but I will not attend due to prior engagements. I wish him well”.

ODM Deputy Party Leader Wycliffe Oparanya—a member of the committee that planned the event—said Mr Odinga would launch the Azimio la Umoja Movement, “which will incorporate several political parties”.

“The movement will be a coalition for 2022,” the Kakamega governor said.

National Assembly Majority Leader Amos Kimunya announced a special sitting of Parliament on December 21 and 22 to amend electoral laws to provide for the formation broader political coalitions.

ODM Chairman John Mbadi said yesterday that, Mr Odinga’s allies envisage a system in which like-minded parties form corporate memberships similar to the National Alliance Rainbow Coalition (Narc) that ensured Mwai Kibaki won the presidency in 2002.

“We want to have an outfit—Azimio—where ODM, Jubilee, PNU and other parties become members without [having to] dissolve,” Mr Mbadi said.

“Individual members can join it directly. Kalonzo was Raila’s running mate yet he was not an ODM member,” he said, adding, the system would entail party corporate membership.

“We can have a joint ticket of Raila and his running mate from whichever party, but the parties become corporate members of the bigger outfit,” Mr Mbadi said.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said the convention would be Mr Odinga’s big day as he transforms Azimio la Umoja into a movement. “The climax will be the address of Baba (Mr Odinga) to the nation. That will mark the end of the function after the launch of the movement,” he said.

Mr Mohamed was non-committal on whether President Kenyatta would be at the event.

“We expect guests to be in Kasarani. They come from all political parties, races, religions, colours and regions. As for the President’s coming, let’s wait and see,” he said.

The Suba East lawmaker added that foreign envoys have been invited and are expected to attend the convention “depending on their availability”.

“We have reliably been informed that the Japanese ambassador will not attend as he is leaving the country since his term has come to an end,” Mr Mohamed said.

“We have invited 60,000 people but expect more than 200,000. We will see how to accommodate more people at the venue. Others can follow the event on giant screens outside the stadium, TV and live streams.”

The programme shows Mr Odinga will arrive at the venue at 11.30am. The ceremony will start with the singing of the National Anthem, followed by performance by artistes and streaming of the ODM leader’s documentary.

Family members

The documentary will then be followed by introducing dignitaries, streaming of videos of the regional Azimio la Umoja meetings, performance  by artistes and short speeches to take approximately 35 minutes.

Mr Odinga will officially “be handed over” to Kenyans by his wife Ida and other family members at 2pm. He will then make his speech, followed by the launching of  the movement.

More than 30 governors, 40 senators, 200 MPs and 1,500 MCAs have confirmed attendance, according to Mr Mohamed.

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