Why Raila Odinga backed out of Homa Bay senatorial race

ODM leader Raila Odinga addresses the Press to announce he will not vie for the Homa Bay County senatorial seat. With him are ODM officials at Capitol Hill House. [PHOTO:JENIPHER WACHIE/STANDARD]

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga will not run for the Homa Bay Senate seat for fear this would split the Opposition and set the stage for claims by rivals that he has stooped too low and is a diminishing political asset.

Raila, who had been touted to capture the seat easily, yesterday defied the pressure from some Luo Nyanza MPs and elders who wanted him to succeed his fallen ally Otieno Kajwang’.