Africa-Press – Kenya. Raila Odinga has once again left the door open on his potential presidential bid, stating that while he hasn’t declared his candidacy, he retains the right to run.
“I have not said that I’m running. I don’t have to run. I can support someone else, but I can also run if I want to. Right now, I’m focused on strengthening ODM,” Odinga said on Sunday, during an interview with NTV.
His comments come at a time when ODM is preparing for party elections and a high-stakes National Delegates Convention (NDC) slated for October.
Party insiders suggest the convention may be a turning point, setting the tone for ODM’s role in the next general election.
Addressing recent political realignments, Odinga also dismissed speculation surrounding a potential alliance between President William Ruto and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
While maintaining cordial ties with Kalonzo, Odinga emphasized that ODM would chart its own path, guided by its values and long-standing legacy.
Political analysts note that Odinga’s remarks reflect both strategic ambiguity and a desire to consolidate the party’s influence ahead of 2027.
Whether he throws his hat into the ring or backs another candidate, Odinga’s political weight continues to shape the landscape.
Also, amid ongoing debate over the role of opposition parties in Kenya’s governance, the ODM party leader clarified his party’s current position regarding government involvement.
While some members have taken up advisory roles, Odinga insists the party itself remains formally outside of the government.
In a recent conversation, Odinga acknowledged internal tensions within the party over the move.
“Initially, I was against it,” he admitted, referring to the decision to allow ODM-affiliated experts to assist the administration. “But my colleagues felt we needed to steady the ship.”
According to Odinga, the gesture was born out of a desire to provide technical expertise and preserve national stability, not to compromise ODM’s core opposition mandate.
He emphasized that no formal agreement had been reached to join the government, citing the absence of structured negotiations or a shared policy framework.
ODM’s leadership has instead put forward a 10-point agenda as the basis for any future engagement—an outline that Odinga says must be considered seriously before deeper collaboration can begin.
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