‘If he loses, I think he should simply retire’

As the African Union Commission (AUC) elections draw near, political figures have continued to give different opinions on the fate of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is looking to replace Moussa Faki Mahamat as the chairperson of the commission.

The latest one to add voice to the debate is Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka who supported Raila’s candidature for the country’s top seat more than once.

Speaking to veteran journalist Mark Masai, Kalonzo opined that he would not picture Raila back on the political scene if he fails to clinch the AUC seat in the upcoming elections in February.

The opposition leader claimed that Raila should proceed to retirement if loses the much-anticipated elections.

Kalonzo told Mark Masai that he would be surprised if he saw Raila back in the political struggles if he unsuccessfully contests for the AUC chairmanship bid.

“I don’t see how Raila Odinga would lose the chairmanship and come back and say he wants to lead Azimio. I would be amazed, I would truly be amazed,” Kalonzo said during an interview late on Monday, February 3, 2025.

“That would not be the Raila Odinga I know because he must also have a reality check. But for now, the option is he goes if he wins, beautiful for him, the country and the continent. If he loses, I think he should simply retire,” he affirmed.

Kalonzo who dropped his presidential bid in 2022 and agreed to back Raila and Martha Karua added that he would expect Raila to join the former President Uhuru Kenyatta as a retired statesman.

“I would advise Raila to retire and join Uhuru Kenyatta who is out of leadership and he is not intending to run again. I think Raila would join Uhuru in that capacity, a retired statesman,” Kalonzo maintained.

However, he made it clear that Azimio was fully behind Raila Odinga’s candidature insisting that his struggles and principles would help the continent make strides in political and socio-economical advancement.

Ruto’s ulterior motive

At the same time, Kalonzo extended his onslaught against President William Ruto claiming that he harboured ulterior motives for endorsing Raila’s candidature.

Kalonzo claimed that Ruto was pushing to get rid of Raila in local politics through the AUC endorsement so that he could capitalise on that to convince his supporters to back his re-election bid.

Full of confidence, Kalonzo asserted that if Raila wins the AUC seat, he would still manage to get more votes in his backyard than Ruto due to his loyalty and their strong work relations in the past.

“William Ruto mistakenly believes with Raila Odinga out of the scene then he can cultivate Raila Odinga’s constituencies. He thinks that loyalty is transferable. Political loyalty is not transferable. If I visit Luo Nyanza and Luo having supported Raila three times if Ruto gets the votes, I must get the majority,” Kalonzo said during the interview.

“I think the intention of William Ruto is he thinks he can get Raila Odinga out of the political scene in Kenya then he would have a second term. I can tell you that it cannot work that way. Less than 20 per cent of Kenyans approve of his leadership whether Raila Odinga goes to the AU or not, William Ruto’s days are numbered as a leader in a democracy and I think he should prepare to leave,” he further claimed.

Coalition after AUC election

To prove his support for Raila’s AUC candidature, Kalonzo told Mark Masai that Azimio halted plans to reconstitute the coalition until after the elections.

The former vice president made it clear that after the AUC elections, even the undecided ones would make a concrete decision that shape the 2027 succession race.’

“A lot of ODM members would want to be with us so we have taken the decision that let us get Raila’s election done over with then we reconstitute our new coalition that would take into account ODM,” Kalonzo detailed.

At the moment, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa’s parties have already submitted their bids to withdraw from Azimio.

Take on Raila if he picks Ruto

Going back to the AUC election fate, Kalonzo recalled having a candid discussion with Raila Odinga in the aftermath of the Gen-Z protests in 2024.

Kalonzo revealed that he questioned Raila and what he thought his legacy would be like after he decided to support the broad-based government formation.

Judging by the discussion, Kalonzo opined that Raila would not want to betray the people after the Gen-Z protests outcome. He claimed that more likely Raila would endorse a pro-people candidate in the 2027 elections if he loses the AUC seat.

Nonetheless, Kalonzo said that he would be ready to face Ruto if Raila chooses to back him in 2027.

“Knowing Raila Odinga, he would not want to betray again because I had a candid discussion him after the Gen Z revolution and the formation of the broad-based government. I told him ‘Raila my brother, I am concerned about your legacy. You have spent all your political years fighting for democracy, for positive change in this country and look at what these young people have done, we can’t afford to betray them.’

“I think Raila then would have a second chance to say that was a misstep, I must be with the people and he chooses to be with the people, he would support us but if he wants to support Ruto, we will deal with them both!”