Political analyst Herman Manyora now says that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was among politicians who expected to succeed retired President Daniel Moi in 2003.
Speaking on Saturday, the commentator noted that Raila expected an endorsement for joining Moi months earlier after he folded up his National Development Party (NDP).
According to Manyora, Moi personally wooed Raila into the independence KANU party, resulting in high hopes on Raila's side, but the president would later endorse Uhuru Kenyatta.
"Of course there was Raila Odinga, made to leave his party to come to KANU, perhaps with the full hope that he would succeed Moi," he said, on his Take It or Leave It analysis channel.
According to Manyora, other hopefuls included Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi, who expected his long tenure by Moi's side to devour him for the top post.
Also in the list was Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), all of whom were warming up for the presidency, after Moi had openly told his Vice George Saitoti not to expect his backing.
"Moi had a number of people waiting to succeed him; The prince, Musalia Mudavadi, the uncrowned king had lived with Moi with all the expectation that he would be made the president. There was Kalonzo Musyoka, there was Ronald Ngala," be added.
However, despite his endorsement of President Uhuru Kenyatta, the seat was won by immediate former President Mwai Kibaki, with the support of Raila who crossed over to the Rainbow coalition.
Raila was later made the Minister in Kibaki's government, before a fallout that saw him challenge Kibaki in the 2007 polls.