NASA leader Raila Odinga and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho at a past event. [Photo/ standardmedia.co.ke]

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After dominating Kenya's political terrain for the past one decade, there is no doubt that ODM is one of the most successful parties in the history of Kenya. However, the giant party is facing an acid test in the post-Raila Odinga succession race.Raila has been at the helm of the party's leadership since its inception in 2006, and with the outfit's political bigwigs training their guns on the 2022 presidential race, change of blood is inevitable.The former Prime Minister has in the past said that he will not be on the presidential ballot in 2022, meaning the party's flag bearer will have to be nominated.Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has declared his interest to vie for president in the next general election. The Governor who is one of Raila's deputies in the party hierarchy is keen to use ODM as his political vessel to springboard his burning ambitions for the country's top seat. His Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi has also declared interest in the seat. He, however, announced that he will consult with Joho to decide who among the two will vie for the country's top seat.Joho will however have to battle it out first for the ticket with his Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya.The Kakamega County Chief is Joho's co-deputy party leader in the ODM leadership and he is equally an astute politician who is very close to Raila, just like Joho.According to an article published in the Nation, Oparanya is setting his eyes on the 2022 presidency and owing to his seniority in ODM, he might be a front-runner for the party ticket.Siaya Senator James Orengo who is NASA's legal engine has remained tight-lipped on his next political move. However, in the dynamic world of politics, the veteran politician might go for a big seat, a move that may further complicate Raila’s succession within ODM.As to what happens in the next five years within the Orange party may prove very decisive in the country's political scene even as political bigwigs roll up their sleeves in readiness for a ferocious contest.