Lawyer Willis Otieno now says Businessman Jimi Wanjigi is the new face of opposition as Azimio leader Raila Odinga focuses on the Africa Union Commission chairperson position.
In an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday, Otieno said Raila has left the opposition in a good state after those who were in the ODM top leadership were appointed in the government.
Wanjigi has recently been embroiled in a tussle with the state over allegations he has sponsored the youth-led anti-government demonstrations. He is also accused of illegal firearm possession.
He however denied the accusations that he declined to surrender firearms in his possession.
"In the opposition, he (Raila) has left us in a good state. Jimi Wanjigi is now the face of opposition in this country. So in terms of how the country will move forward, Raila has done it very well," he said.
Lawyer Otieno pointed out that Raila has left President William Ruto in leadership but with some of his former party colleagues.
Ruto appointed four members of the Opposition ODM party in charge of different ministries.
He appointed John Mbadi to head the National Treasury, Wycliffe Oparanya to the Cooperatives and MSMEs docket, Hassan Joho to Mining and Blue Economy and Opiyo Wandayi to the Energy Ministry.
Otieno said these changes will see that the country enters into a new era of politics.
"This is the sense that whereas previously Raila has been used as the bogeyman in our politics, we are now going to move into an issue based politics where people are going to discuss what is the ideology that informs your quest to lead Kenyans," he said.
"We will never refer to Raila as who has caused this or blame Raila for whatever failures that the government will face."
The lawyer noted that Raila has been the most consequential politician in Kenya, shaping the country's political developments in a more significant way than other politicians.
"So his exit will definitely have a say and it is quite commendable that he is put his house in order," he said.
On Wednesday, Raila said his time to participate actively in Kenyan politics is over and now he will be concentrating on the continental campaigns as he eyes the AUC chairman position.
"You know that I'm going to begin to work for the continent, once I'm elected in February 2025," Raila said.
"At the moment, I'm involved in the (AUC) campaigns, but that does not mean that Kenya ceases to exist. I'm not going to be active in Kenyan politics henceforth as I focus my attention on the continental campaign."