Raila Odinga best bet against Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2017 polls, ODM MPs say

The battle for Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) presidential flag bearer in 2017 is taking shape, with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislators saying their party leader Raila Odinga is the best bet for Opposition to beat President Uhuru Kenyatta. The MPs say the Opposition will hand President Kenyatta an easy second term if either Kalonzo Musyoka or Moses Wetang'ula is picked as CORD's presidential flag bearer.

They were reacting to Monday's endorsement of Kalonzo (Wiper) and Wetangula (Ford Kenya) to contest for Presidency in 2017 by their respective parties.

The lawmakers who included Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang' and MPs Fred Outa (Nyando), Opondo Kaluma (Homa Bay town) Ken Okoth (Kibra), Oyugi Magwanga (Kasipul) and Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) said Raila is the most preferred candidate in CORD.

"Right now, there is no doubt that Raila still remains the candidate with the strongest appeal. He is the only one who has so far set up a presidential campaign team. He is also the only one whose party is conducting grass roots elections in preparation for 2017," said Kajwang'.

 Identity cards

Kajwang' stated that the numerical strength of ODM in CORD gives it a better bargaining for its candidate to fly the flag of the coalition.

"He (Raila) is the leader of the party with the largest majority of MPs, senators and governors and very few have defected. His backyard has taken the lead in taking up identity and voters cards. He is already a preferred candidate," added Kajwang'.

Okoth said, "Raila remains the most popular leader with the strongest national grass roots network."

As opposed to other parties in CORD, Okoth said ODM is already spearheading mass voter registration campaigns in its strongholds to boost Raila's chances of becoming President. Outa faulted the feeling in Wiper and Ford Kenya that the parties are not ready to play a second fiddle to Raila in the 2017 elections. "If Raila became President in the last elections, he would have paid back. So the issue of not playing a second fiddle does not apply. The only person who can compete with Jubilee is Raila," Outa said.

Wandayi who is the ODM Director of Political Affairs said the coalition's flag bearer still remains Raila.

But ODM chairman John Mbadi said the decision to field Wetang'ula and Kalonzo by their respective parties should not be misconstrued to mean division in CORD.