Political analyst Martin Andati has termed ODM leader Raila Odinga the beneficiary of the apparent widening rift between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy President William Ruto.
The two have been appearing distant lately, with the president last week sending Kieni MP Kanini Kega to represent him at a funeral service in Nyeri, also attended by the DP.
On the other hand, Uhuru has been closer to Raila, with whom he struck a truce in 2018, with Andati saying that the change of things around Uhuru will better Raila's chances of realizing his future ambitions, especially the presidency.
According to him, with Uhuru's backing behind him and no longer with Ruto, Raila can easily win.
"With Ruto being thrown out, the beneficiary is Raila who appears like the only one with enough strength to battle Ruto. (Ruto anapotupwa nje ni Raila anafaidika maana ndiye anayeonekana ako na nguvu ya kumenyana na Ruto)," he said in an interview on Radio Maisha on Monday morning.
Raila and Uhuru have remained close after their March 2018 truce, which ended their initial enmity as was demonstrated when they faced off in the 2013 and 2017 polls.
About Raila, Andati observed that his reunion with Uhuru was informed by his ultimate realization that politics of opposition will never hand him the presidency.
He opined that the former Prime Minister has also decided to please the deep-state to secure himself the slot, after realizing that his popularity and influence are of no use in the ballot.
"Raila has realized that he cannot fight the deep-state, choosing to humble himself hence the reason why he now even refers to Uhuru as Your Excellency Sir. He has realized that politics of throwing stones is useless. (Raila ameona hawezi pigana na deep-state ameona anyeyekee na ndio maana sasa hata anamwita Your Excellency Sir. Ameona siasa yake ya mbeleni ya kutupa mawe haiwezi saidia)," he added.
However, while the DP's presidential bid for 2022 is in the public domain, Raila remains silent on whether or not he will be taking his fifth shot at the top seat.