NASA leader Raila Odinga. He should consider another shot at the presidency in 2022. (Photo/nation.co.ke)
National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga has had four attempts at the presidency in 1997, 2007, 2013 and 2017. For the past three presidential elections, the results have been contested.
Raila has maintained that he has won all presidential elections that he has participated in but has been rigged out. In 2007, the contestation of the presidential results plunged the country into chaos leading to loss of lives, maiming, loss of property and displacement of people from their homes.
In this year's August elections, he {Raila) announced that this was his 'last bullet' aimed at clinching the presidency. He thus got into a coalition with Wiper Democratic Movement, Amani National Congress (ANC), Ford Kenya and Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) parties with the aim of bolstering his chances of defeating his closest opponent, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
However, the election outcome was similarly contested at the Supreme Court just as it had happened in 2013. Contrary to 2013, the Supreme Court annulled the presidential election calling for a fresh election in 60 days.
Raila nonetheless boycotted the October 26 election leaving President Kenyatta with no competition.
Having failed to clinch the presidency despite numerous calls for electoral audit in the country, Raila should consider firing another last bullet see if he can become the 5th president. He should not however resort to the idea of swearing in himself since the country already has a sitting president.
He should engage other national leaders and come up with a strong team that is capable of accumulating more votes as compared to the at least 6 million votes he got in August.