Yusuf Hassan, the Kamukunji member of parliament, thinks that if Raila Odinga decides to back Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka as the coalition's flagbearer, it will cause discord in the opposition party.
This follows rumors that Mr. Odinga supported the Wiper leader to represent the Azimio la Umoja coalition in the general election 2027.
Hassan believes that Mr. Odinga is a colossal figure in the opposition movement in the country and that the wiper leader will be in danger if he transfers the baton to Kalonzo too quickly.
The lawmaker asserts that Raila is a significant player in Kenyan politics and advises him to exercise caution in making decisions between now and the next election cycle, given the possibility that he may resign from office.
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"If the declaration was right I think it would have damaged the opposition and would it will open up a fight which Kalonzo is not ready for at the moment," he said, speaking on Citizen TV's Daybreak show on Thursday.
"If it is true that he is thinking of stepping down then it puts the whole opposition in limbo of what it is like to be contending in the next elections without the powerful figure of Raila being behind it."
He continued by saying that the Orange Democratic Movement, Mr. Odinga's party, which he claims has carried the firebrand's DNA since its founding, will likewise be placed in limbo along with the opposition.
"I cannot imagine ODM existing in a very strong position in Kenyan politics without Raila. I cannot imagine the opposition without a torchbearer like Raila," said Hassan.
"Raila is the patriarch of Kenyan politics, he is also the baron of the opposition. So what he says and how he says it carries a lot of weight in our country, and a lot of people are saying does this mean that Raila is going to step back from politics."
However, Mr. Odinga has denied the accusations that he supported Kalonzo, arguing that since the elections are four years away, the party's stance on its 2027 political goals could not be inferred from the admiration for the Wiper head.
Instead, he said that he made those remarks to support Kalonzo in response to President William Ruto's purported attempt to split the coalition by making unfounded predictions about Kalonzo's 2027 campaign.
"He is speaking about Kalonzo Musyoka as if they are equals, he (Musyoka)is far better than him (Ruto)," said Odinga during Siaya senator Oburu Oginga's birthday celebration in Bondo.
In 1863, Abraham Lincoln described democracy as "Government of the People, by the People, for the People."
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) October 17, 2023
Today, we continue striving for the best representation of all, guided by the principles of sovereignty, equity, participation, process, and independent institutions. pic.twitter.com/rK9AGbMKkU
"He wants to divide us with talk about who will run for the presidency, yet we ourselves have not announced anything. We will show him he knows nothing; we will stand with Kalonzo because he is an honest person."
On the other hand, Odinga has stated that President Ruto will not stand a chance against Kalonzo if they both run for office.
