Former Law Society of Kenya president Nelson Havi has said Embakasi East MP Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino is fit to lead ODM post-Raila Odinga era.
In a statement on the X platform on Sunday, Havi showered Babu with praise saying he possesses the skills to lead the Orange Democratic Movement Party.
"Let me tell you Maina, of all those pretenders to the ODM throne, only Babu Owino can lead, mobilise, organise and run a credible opposition outfit," he said.
Havi claimed that the rest of the ODM members are heavily politically indebted or porous in their credibility.
A quiet succession battle to replace Raila as the leader of Opposition in Azimio la Umoja Coalition and ODM has started, as the veteran politician lobbies for the chairmanship of the African Union.
Last week, ODM leader Raila endorsed his deputies Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya to lead the party should his African Union Commission chairmanship bid succeed.
Raila’s declaration on Thursday during an ODM mobilisation event in Wajir could put an end to speculations about his possible successor in the party as he eyes the AU job.
Reports had said top guns in Raila’s inner circles were split between endorsing Oparanya or Joho as the alternative ODM party leader.
However, Raila said he was confident that the two would run the affairs of ODM well in his absence.
"They will work together. A party that has a good foundation cannot disintegrate when one person steps aside. A strong party is not about an individual but the entire membership and its leadership,” Raila told party members.
Speaking for the first time openly about his preferred heir, Raila said his exit from local politics should not plummet the party’s rock-solid fortunes built over two decades.
He said he would be available to offer advice to the two whenever needed.
Raila spoke in the presence of Joho and Oparanya who accompanied him to Wajir for the ODM grassroots activities hosted by Governor Ahmed Abdullahi.
“I’m here with former governors (Wycliffe) Oparanya and Ali Hassan Joho. They will come together (to lead ODM). A party with a strong foundation cannot crumble just because one person has left," he said.
"I'm confident that these (two) will continue driving the party agenda even though I’ll be in Addis Ababa. If they want advice, I'm ready. ODM will remain intact,” Raila said.
Raila called the two on the podium as he instructed them to take charge and steer the party ahead to realising its vision of forming government one day.
Raila’s endorsement of both Joho and Oparanya signal his political tightrope to choose either of the two as his potential successor in a bid not to upset his strongholds.