ODM leader Raila Odinga has invited his international political allies to attend the announcement of his 2022 presidential bid at an ODM jamboree in Nairobi on December 9.
The Orange Democratic Movement officials are stitching an elaborate programme culminating in the party boss’s official declaration of his fifth run for State House.
Raila’s big day has been carefully scheduled to coincide with the final lap of his countywide consultations known as Azimio La Umoja that have overwhelmingly endorsed his presidential bid.
The last leg of meetings will be held in Makueni on Friday with a final meeting in Nyeri on November 28 before the big day in Nairobi
The Nairobi plan calls for Raila to first hold an indoor meeting with invited guests and select national politicians at the Bomas of Kenya. It will be followed by a mega rally in the capital city.
ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna described the day as “historic” but declined to name the invited international guests.
“The event will be graced by international leaders who are close to Raila and who have walked with him all throughout; we expect international guests and local political leaders to attend,” Sifuna said.
While the list of the international dignitaries was not immediately available, Raila, who is Africa’s High Representative for infrastructure, has built a massive continental and global profile and network of powerful friends.
Recently, Raila has been taking the battle for next year’s general election outside the borders, tapping influential figures.
The former Prime Minister is a close associate of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, DRC’s Felix Tshisekedi, Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema as well as former Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo.
In East Africa, Raila has close ties with Tanzania and in Uganda where he has been flirting with the opposition.
Raila’s grand ceremony will come exactly nine days after President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party will have sealed a pre-2022 coalition pact with ODM.
Other Mt Kenya parties including PNU and Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi’s Devolution Empowerment Party are on the list.
Jubilee has convened a National Delegates Convention on November 30 to kick out Deputy President William Ruto as the party’s second in command, thus, ushering in the new deal with Raila.
The organisers of the December 9 event are exploring whether to hold a major rally in Nyayo stadium after the indoor meeting or shift it to Kamukunji grounds.
Uhuru Park has been undergoing renovations.
An ODM National Delegates Convention will thereafter be convened before Christmas when Raila will formally accept ODM’s nomination as the party’s 2022 presidential candidate.
On Sunday, Raila said he will declare his 2022 presidential bid next month, ending speculations about his plans amid pressure from allies.
“Next month, on December 9, I will formally make the big announcement,” Raila said in Nairobi's Eastleigh.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino termed December 9 a "decisive day" for the ODM party and the country.
"All eyes will be on Baba. We are filled with expectations that our party leader will listen to the voices of the party members and the country and announce his presidential candidature," he said.
The Star has learnt that the ODM National Elections Board has given branch officials two weeks to complete the process of harmonising the delegates lists across the country.
Thereafter, the NEB will draw up the final list of the bona fide delegates to attend the NDC later next month to instal new office bearers and nominate Raila to fly the party's banner.
Raila has also been holding talks with foreign ambassadors and high commissioners in Nairobi including those from United States, Germany, Australia and Britain.
On the eve of December 9, the ODM boss will be hosted by Nairobi county delegates at Kasarani gymnasium as part of the back-to-back plans to finally crown him as the party’s flagbearer.
Makadara MP George Aladwa, who is the chairman of the ODM Nairobi branch, told the Star the meeting will culminate in the Nairobi branch declaration, endorsing Raila for president.
"As the Nairobi branch, we will assemble at least 20 delegates from each of the 17 constituencies for the all-important meeting on December 8 setting the tempo for the Azimio la Umoja meeting the following day,” Aladwa said.
Raila, who has been endorsed in at least eight regional events convened by ODM to collect members’ views, will be running for President for the fifth consecutive time, save for 2002 polls.
The 76-year-old is then set to face Deputy President William Ruto, the man whose 2013 and 2017 presidential campaign machine with President Uhuru Kenyatta crushed his State House ambitions.
The DP, who is bitterly estranged from his boss, the President, has intensified his campaigns through his hustler nation movement that he says will transform Kenya.
Uhuru has signalled that he could back Raila to succeed him, jolting plans by the country political bigwigs, including Ruto and the One Kenya Alliance principals.
In 2017, Raila represented the defunct National Super Alliance, Nasa, which was a coalition of the country's main opposition parties including his ODM outfit.
(Edited by V. Graham)
