BUSIA, Kenya – Fresh from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he lost his bid for the coveted African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson seat, former prime minister Raila Odinga has kept the nation guessing.
Raila kicked off a series of high-level consultative meetings this week in Luo Nyanza counties, holding closed-door meetings with the Luo Council Elders and local youth leaders even as he promised to reveal his next political move.
He (Raila) is expected to continue with engagements across the country, with all eyes on him as the political landscape braces for his next move.
Raila has asked his supporters to put an end to the focus on his failed AUC bid campaign, urging them to look ahead and embrace the future.
“That chapter is now behind us; now we are moving forward. I had said that there was going to be life after Addis Ababa, and that is why I am back here. East or West, home is the best,” added Raila.
Raila returned to the country on Monday, February 24, 2025, and met with President William Ruto at the State House, Mombasa.
Following their meeting, President Ruto affirmed that his decision was open to working with Raila to advance its development agenda.
Where will Raila make his highly-anticipated announcement
Y News however has established that Raila is expected to reveal his next political move today, Friday, February 28, 2028.
The highly-anticipated event will take place at Bukiri Primary School, Funyula Constituency, Busia County, and will coincide with the ODM Party’s 20th anniversary.
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, outspoken Saboti MP Caleb Amisi hinted about the event.
“Tomorrow is a historic moment for @TheODMparty. The boarding ticket is ready and printed out. The time of departure is known, but the time for the return flight is unknown. No centrist positions anymore. You are either leftist or rightist. Renaissance!” Amisi posted on X.
It was an honor to host our Party Leader, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, in Kisumu as he begins wide consultations on the way forward for our beloved country. His choice of Kisumu as a starting point underscores the county’s pivotal role in shaping the national discourse.
While speaking in Migori County ahead of the big announcement, Raila said he will not betray Kenyans when he makes his stand about his relationship with the Kenya Kwanza government.
The former premier said he would make his stand known without betraying his supporters, many of whom are waiting for the declaration in high spirits.
“We are not going to betray our people in whatever we do. Whatever we do is something that needs to be done for the best interest of the people of Kenya,” said Raila.
What apolitical analysts think about Raila’s next course of action
He maintained that his decision would come from the views of his supporters.
“This mission is consultative. I am moving around the country to consult our people. I have listened carefully to the views that have been expressed by the people who are here, and I can tell you that these people have given me a cutter blanch that is a blank cheque. I can write any amount on it,” said Raila.
Amid the ongoing political realignments, Willis Otieno, deputy party leader Safina, observed that whether he should join the government or not, he should make sure that he is on the ballot in the 2027 elections.
According to Otieno, of the 6.5 million votes that Raila got, he lost, on average, the 1 million votes he got from Mt Kenya.
“Maybe he has lost all those from Ukambani that Kalonzo brought to him, so he has 5.3 million votes while William Ruto has 2.7 million votes. He is running on Raila’s energy,” explained Otieno.
Otieno, a lawyer by profession, said that if he were in Raila’s inner circle, he would demand the country’s top seat.
“So, since I had the most votes in this arrangement, I should become the president. I would stand my ground and demand the position of president,” added Otieno.
Why Raila Odinga should be on the ballot in the 2027 elections
He urged the ODM party to demand the presidency in favour of Raila; otherwise, the country would soon witness people around Raila demanding positions like CSs, PSs, and even ambassadorial appointments.
“Since 2013, there is only one person in that political space that, when everybody around him gets seats, never gets anything, and that is Raila himself,” stated Otieno.
Raila and his ODM troops can decide to walk politically fully into the broad-based government. But there will be political consequences for everybody. He can now go in and take the skunk of William Ruto and fully immerse himself in it.
The other option he has, and if I were in that political space, I would be saying, as it is today, of the 7.2 million votes that William Ruto got, he has lost 4.5 million of them that we are sure from the mountain region.
People are running on the back of Raila Odinga to get positions for themselves, and I am sure in that space today, some are saying we cannot rock the boat; we must find accommodation fully in government because they know at the end of the day Raila will not become a CS, PS, or ambassador; he will just remain what he is today, Raila without a portfolio.
Tomorrow is a historic moment of @TheODMparty.The boarding ticket is ready and printed out.The time for departure is known, but the time for return flight is unknown. No centrist positions anymore. You are either leftist or rightist. Renaissance!
Former Amani National Congress (ANC) Uasin Gishu County branch chairman Nechu Saina said that should Raila join forces with President Ruto, then he will come in with his close allies.
“Raila will drag the people he has heavily invested in to government, dealing a big blow to the likes of Kithure Kindiki, Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetang’ula, and Kimani Ichung’wah,” said Saina.
However, former Kinoo Ward MCA aspirant Timothy Njuguna, alias WaManyumba, observed that every coalition that Raila rides on doesn’t reach “Canaan.”.
“This one in thought is only at its fathomable state (thought stage) awaiting reality and indulgence to be. It’s also a war between the highest buying bidder (what offer he gets from the sitting president vs. the other offerings); whichever outweighs the other on the scales, he shall ride on it,” said WaManyumba.
Meanwhile, during the event in Busia, Raila is expected to be handed back the ODM instruments of power almost one year after he declared his bid to vie for the AUC seat.
