Opposition Leader Raila Odinga has clarified that he has no intention of running for the Presidency in 2022.
In a statement shared by his spokesman Dennis Onyango, the former Premier noted that his main focus is to unite the country under the Building Bridges Initiative.
Yesterday, a section of ODM leaders noted that Odinga will be their candidate in 2022.
Here is the full statement:
Press Statement, MAY 6, 2018. H.E Raila Odinga is not interested in politics of 2022
His Excellency Hon. Raila Odinga has read in today's Sunday Standard a headline purporting that he intends to run for the Presidency of Kenya in 2022.
The headline is based on an alleged position held by the Orange Democratic Movement and other persons identified as his closest allies.
One week ago, Hon. Raila informed the country from the podium of the funeral service of his fellow comrade in the struggle for multi-partysm the late Hon. Kenneth Matiba that his entire efforts are currently directed at the Building Bridges Initiative and the determination that he and His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta are engaged in to bring the country together and heal the ills that have afflicted it throughout the years.
The road map to healing the ills is contained in the MoU signed by himself and H.E President Kenyatta.H.E. Raila Odinga therefore appeals to Kenyans to consider the views published in the Sunday Standard today as those of the people expressing them and not his.
The views ought to be seen in the same light with those of COTU Secretary General Mr. Francis Atwoli who, on May 1, asked for what he called a soft-landing for President Kenyatta after the President’s term ends.
The COTU leader was certainly not speaking for the President. H.E Odinga further appeals to Kenyans to stay focused on the critical issues contained in the Building Bridges project and healing the nation and reiterates the need for Kenyans to address themselves to the future that we would want our children to live in and refuse to be distracted by the politics of 2022.
If and when Hon. Odinga will want to communicate something different to the country, he will do so personally and directly on an open national forum.
Dennis Onyango.