Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrives in Wajir County on March 5, 2025. PHOTO/X/Ahmed Abdullahi
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has arrived in Wajir as he continues grassroots consultations to determine his next political move.
This follows his unsuccessful bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship last month.
Raila has been holding meetings with party members in his traditional support bases to gather their views on his political direction.
He has toured Luo Nyanza, parts of Western Kenya, and the Coast region to gauge the sentiments of his supporters before making a decision.
He is reportedly torn between resuming his role as the
leader of the opposition and supporting President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza
government ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political analysts argue that Raila faces limited options in his political arsenal as he navigates one of the most uncertain periods of his career, given his advancing age.
In Wajir, Raila was welcomed by Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, who also serves as the Council of Governors chairperson.
"Welcomed the Right Honourable Raila Odinga to Wajir County as he engaged with the grassroots in his consultative mission," Abdullahi said in a post on X.
Raila was accompanied by Suna East Member of Parliament and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed.
Reports indicate that Raila could make a major political announcement before the end of the week as he reportedly seeks to finalize a deal with President Ruto.
While in Kwale on Tuesday, Raila urged his supporters to be patient as he continues gathering public views on his next move.
He first announced his nationwide consultations on Monday, February 24, 2025, during an address in Mombasa.
This came after a meeting with President Ruto following his return from a brief rest in Dubai after his AUC bid loss in Addis Ababa.
“We are available for Africa, but more importantly, we are available for Kenya. I’m back home now. I’m going to meet with my friends and supporters, consult widely on the next step forward, and in due course, we will announce our way forward,” Raila said.
