NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga. [Photo/Nation]
With the NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga having only the proverbial one bullet left in his gun, he must mount a serious campaign if he is to eclipse President Uhuru Kenyatta in the repeat presidential poll slated for October 17.
But to do that, the former Prime Minister will be forced to assemble a new team to spearhead his campaigns in the vote-rich Rift Valley, a region with over 3.3 million votes at stake.
The exit of the former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto from the NASA fold has thrown Raila's campaign in the region into a spin, something that may force the former Lang'ata MP to identify new point men to pitch for his election.
In the August 8 poll, with a tally of 2,507,623 votes, President Uhuru Kenyatta defeated Raila for the second time in the region, with the NASA Chief garnering just 749,276 votes. However, the exit of Ruto may affect this tally, a scenario that the former Premier is keen to avoid.
With Deputy President William Ruto being the most influential figure in the expansive region, Raila's political fate there is pegged on the people he will appoint to spearhead his agenda.
Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok is the only senior politician from the region who is in NASA. Though he doesn't command immense influence, Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina is also Odinga's key cog to a Presidential race winning machine.
Others include Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta who is the only NASA elected MP in Narok and former Kajiado Governor David Nkedianye and Kajiado Central MP Elijah Memusi.