With the 2017 General Election drawing near, more pressure is being mounted on Cord leader, Raila Odinga to back out of the trace.
The latest to agree to this is former deputy speaker, Farah Maalim.
Maalim said that there is no doubt Raila is the best presidential candidate when it comes to experience but that he should give other candidates the platform.
The former speaker said that if Raila wants to form the next government, he will have to make a few sacrifices and endorsing another presidential candidate in the party is just one of the sacrifices needed.
‘‘It’s time for Raila to support somebody else in 2017. It is the only fair thing to do at this time to save our dear country, because the State is more divided and even more bloody minded,’’ said Maalim.
The leader said that if Raila did this, then that would lead to a whole new game which could see Cord form the 2017 government.
‘‘In my view, let Raila get somebody else for one term, i.e. the five years between 2017 and 2022. Raila can take the position of Cabinet Secretary in charge of Coordination and Supervision. Together with the President, they can re-start the reform process to revise everything that has been used to rig elections in the last 10 years,’’ stated the former deputy speaker.
Maalim said that or Cord to win a two-thirds majority next year, the only solution would be for Raila to endorse another candidate.
‘‘If Raila has been demonised to the extent that some people are scared of him, he can validate the situation by repackaging himself,’’ added Maalim.