ODM chairman John Mbadi has cautioned some politicians from writing off his party leader.
Mbadi said Raila is still focused on his political ambitions despite maintaining unusual silence over 2022 succession debate.
He said the former Prime Minister could make an unexpected move in the next polls that could catch his political opponents unawares.
“Write him (Raila) off at your own peril. The guy is capable of striking a surprise. But what we are sure of at the moment is that he is determined to make ODM stronger,” he said.
Speaking to People Daily on Friday, the Suba South MP said they have been pressing their party leader to announce his presidential bid, but he has been categorical his focus was to ensure the success of his unity pact with President Uhuru Kenyatta which they signed on March 9, 2018.
“Raila has on several occasions told us that 2022 is not his priority at the moment. His pre-occupation now is ensuring the success of the Building Bridges Initiative. We would have liked him to be on the ballot in 2022, but that is his wish," Mbadi said.
Political analyst Prof Amukowa Anangwe has also warned those eyeing the presidency to prepare for a bruising battle from Raila in 2022.
“He doesn’t seem politically active at the moment courtesy of the Handshake with President Kenyatta, where he agreed to accord the Jubilee leader a peaceful atmosphere to enable him realise his development agenda," said Anangwe, a political science lecturer at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania.