The meeting between former President Mwai Kibaki and ODM party leader Raila Odinga continues to draw reactions across the political divide.
Politicians, political analysts, and Kenyans are expressing mixed reactions about the meeting that comes days after the former prime minister met with retired President Daniel Arap Moi at his Kabarak home.
Political pundits argue that Raila is sending a strong political signal on his possible intention to contest in 2022 and that his competitors should get ready.
According to Sheila Kwamboka, a political science lecturer at a local private university in Limuru, Raila’s handshake is a strategy ahead of 2022.
She observes that Raila is meeting top politicians once considered his enemies to weigh on the reaction's from Kenyans and competitors as he plans to contest for the top seat.
The lecturer adds that the choice of meeting retired presidents and senior top politicians espcaically from the Mt kenya region is not a coincidence.
“Raila is shaping his 2022 presidential bid and his compeititors should wake up because he seems keen on succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta,” she said.
Kwamboka notes that for a long time Mt Kenya has oppossed Raila as a leader and that the former Prime Minister is on a mission to demystify the myths.
She adds that the March 9 meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta set the stage for Odinga’s candidature in the 2022 general election.
The political lecturer adds that family ties between the Odinga’s, Moi’s and Kenyatta’s is what will playout in the 2022 sucession politics.
Kwamboka said that the country is likely to witness more political surprise's a politician's bid for 2202 presidential election.
Raila has four times unsuccessfully contested for the presidency and his allies maintain that he is still young and will contest in 2022.