Kisumu based political analyst Tom Mboya has said Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) boss Raila Odinga remains the man to watch ahead of the 2022 elections.
The remarks, however, come amid Odinga's silence regarding the 2022 presidential race, despite suspicions from his rivals that he could be warming up for the contest.
According to the Maseno University don, there is no politics in Kenya without Raila, terming him an important component of Kenyan politics and means of survival for many politicians.
“Whatever other politicians say can only sell if they invoke Raila’s name. He is an enigma, that is why his name must always crop up — to allow these guys to sell their agenda," he said.
About 2022, he noted that Odinga is the only man who has what it takes to battle it out with Deputy President William Ruto.
According to the commentator, the rest who have declared their interests cannot match the required standards which only the former Prime Minister can offer.
"In the political landscape now he is the one formidable to challenge the already declared candidate William Ruto,” he added.
Among those who have declared their intentions are Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi.