The Kibra mini poll could be the beginning of something completely different in the Kenyan mainstream politics ahead of the 2022 polls, political analyst Martin Oloo says.
While the race was largely between the Jubilee Party and ODM, it appears to have punctured alliances, with politicians leaving their blocs to campaign for their preferred candidates.
In Jubilee, allies of Deputy President William Ruto differed with some of President Uhuru's, while opposition's National Super Alliance (NASA) party members could not agree with ODM which fielded Imran Okoth, the MP-elect.
Following claims that Ruto is now eyeing the remaining NASA co-principals and Raila appears to have courted some of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka's allies, Oloo says that this could be the start of new political alliances.
“The machinery has been tested. This is the death of NASA and Jubilee. Next, we will be seeing new coalitions and formations with new political think-tanks and machinery,” Oloo maintained.
This comes amid claims that Ruto is in talks with Kalonzo, and is also eyeing ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya's Moses Wetangula for a possible alliance in the 2022 polls.
On the other hand, Raila mobilized Ukambani governors Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Kivutha Kibwana (Makueni) to Kibra, which has been seen as a mockery to Kalonzo.
Raila is also thought to be in a tight political alliance with Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru.
According to Dr Samuel Okuro of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University, Raila has hinted that he will be working with both sides, those he has and those he has not, in the future main polls, and is making his strategies.
“It shows what will unfold in future. The strange support accorded to Raila illustrates that Raila is strategically positioning himself to work with people he has worked with before and those he hasn’t. It's about 2022,” he said.
However, while Ruto has made his 2022 presidential plans known, Raila remains silent on his.