Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition flag bearer Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua are officially on the ballot.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) cleared the Azimio ticket to run for the 2022 presidential election a day after his closest rival, Deputy President William Ruto, was also given the nod to vie as the United Democratic Alliance, backed by Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Odinga is making his 5th attempt for the presidency. Coincidentally, he picked the 5th day of June to present himself as a candidate, and if elected, he’d become the 5th president of the Republic of Kenya.
He is also the 5th presidential candidate to be given the green light by IEBC.
Other candidates given an official go-ahead are Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah, Walter Mong’are of Umoja Summit Party, and David Mwaura Waihiga of the Agano party.
Odinga was accompanied by Karua, and members of his coalition, including Kitui governor Charity Ngilu, Nairobi Gov Ann Kananu, Azimio Secretary General Junet Mohammed, and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and supporters who filled the hall at Bomas of Kenya.
“We would like to urge you to live by the script and do exactly what the people of Kenya expect of you. We promise you that we are going to conduct ourselves as candidates, and also members of our movement, in a manner that conforms to the requirements of electoral laws and the constitution. We would like to see a free and fair electoral process,” Odinga said.
Addressing the Independent and Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman after presenting his papers, Odinga expressed confidence in IEBC and criticized his Kenya Kwanza opponent William Ruto for alleging the media was against him.
“We would like to urge you to live by the script and do exactly what the people of Kenya expect of you. We promise you that we are going to conduct ourselves as candidates, and also members of our movement, in a manner that conforms to the requirements of electoral laws and the constitution. We would like to see a free and fair electoral process,” Odinga said.
He raised several issues he’d like IEBC to address, including the status of adding polling stations and the publication of the final voter roll.
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati, the official returning officer for the presidential election, said his commission is committed to conducting a free, fair, and credible election. Chebukati also told Odinga that his commission would soon set a date with all the presidential candidates to address the issues that they may be having.
“This is not the time to go through this because we have other candidates to clear, but we shall look for an opportunity to call all candidates for a meeting where we can ventilate some of these issues. I hope you (Odinga) shall attend in person where I, as the returning officer, can iron out these issues and answer all the questions in this memo in writing,” said Chebukati
Odinga also appointed Saitabao Ole Kanchory as his Chief Agent during the August 9 elections. After receiving the nomination certificate, the Azimio la Umoja captain named four other leaders who would help Kanchory.
“I have appointed lawyer Saitabao Sanchory as a national chief agent. He will be deputized by Dr. Carolyne Karugu, Prof Isaiah wa Kindiki, Dr. Oduor Ongwen, and my legal advisor Paul Mwangi,” Odinga said.
Prof Isaiah Kindiki is the brother of Prof Kithure Kindiki, William Ruto’s Chief Agent for the August polls.
Odinga’s main rival Ruto received his clearance on June 4. He complained that the media has been unfair to him.
After being cleared on Saturday, Ruto named Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki his Chief Agent in the August 9 presidential election.
Ruto said Kindiki would be assisted by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Veronica Maina.
DP further said that the duo would double up as liaison officials assisted by Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok, who will work closely with IEBC to iron out any electoral issues.
“I have appointed a professional lady and gentlemen to liaison between Kenya Kwanza and the Commission. Professor Kithure Kindiki will be my Chief Agent, assisted by Veronica Maina and Nanok,” he stated
Josphat Nanok heads William Ruto’s presidential campaign secretariat.
Prof Kithure Kindiki contested for the UDA running mate slot but lost to Mathira Constituency Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua, an outcome many.
The DP said that the Kenya Kwanza team has confidence in the IEBC and called for fairness to execute their mandate.
“We don’t want to be favored. We want to be treated fairly like everybody else. We are not asking for what is more than fair and a right to us. All candidates should be treated fairly,” he said.
After being cleared, Ruto promised to stage a presidential campaign like no other.
“You have not seen our campaigns yet. You will witness what you have never seen from today,” Ruto said.
Besides, the Deputy President asked his supporters and the country to avoid all manner of violence associated with the election.
“This is a moment of our lifetime, and we must do everything to protect it from violence, sideshows, shouting matches, and contests that are outside the focus of the elections,” Ruto said.
He added that the day marked the true emancipation of the common mwananchi –their aspirations, wishes, dreams, and Kenya’s political architecture. Kenya has an unemployment rate of about 40 percent, and most unemployed are youth.
“I have appointed a professional lady and gentlemen to liaison between Kenya Kwanza and the Commission. Professor Kithure Kindiki will be my Chief Agent, assisted by Veronica Maina and Nanok,” Ruto said.
Ruto said his economic Big Four Agenda in the Jubilee government was sabotaged when President Uhuru Kenyatta entered into an agreement, known as Handshake with Raila Odinga.
He blamed Odinga for its failure.
“We had a solid plan to build on what we accomplished in our first term. The plan was on the Big Four agenda. But that was not materialized because the handshake debacle denied the people of Kenya the chance to move their country forward,” he said.
In 2018, Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga joined forces and reunited with a symbolic Handshake that has now grown to be almost a national philosophy. Since the handshake, President Kenyatta has openly favored Odinga and kept his estranged deputy at the periphery.
Ruto asked IEBC to be careful since there are people planning to rig the forthcoming elections.
“We ask the commission to be vigilant. There are desperate people who have been telling whoever cares to listen that since they have no plan or agenda, the only thing left for them is to try and manipulate the August election,” Ruto said.
Ruto is championing boosting the common mwananchi’s economy directly and indirectly. He has repeatedly said that the bottom-up approach that he is advocating for will be the real panacea for the country’s poor economic growth and joblessness. He validates this by saying he has been poor and rose by selling chicken and ground nuts.
Meanwhile, Odinga, the son of Kenya’s Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, promises to continue the county’s economic growth from where Uhuru Kenyatta, the outgoing president, will have reached. Odinga has also promised to cushion the unemployed people with a monthly stipend of Ksh 6,000.