By Peter Opiyo

Prime Minister Raila Odinga will most certainly relinquish his parliamentary seat thanks to the new Constitution.

This will expose the people of Langata Constituency, who he has represented since 1992 to new leadership at a time when the constituency has been split into two, Langata and Kibra, portending an interesting scenario for those who will contest the two seats.

Langata had been associated with Raila such that some said they could only vie for parliamentary seat in the region if the area was split.

Such was the view of now Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u, who in 2007 said she could only vie if the area was split into two, saying she had a long-standing family relationship with Raila and could not oppose him.

At the time, Raila faced opposition from amongst others flamboyant Narc-K activist Stanley Livondo, Ndura Waruinge and businessman Antony Kirori.

Raila’s influence in the area has been growing since 1992 and should he choose to endorse a candidate, it would almost be certain that the candidate might get the ticket to parliament.

Detention

The PM was released from detention in June 1989 following his arrest over alleged involvement with the clandestine Kenya Revolutionary Movement, which was agitating for the re-introduction of multi-party politics.

He was, however, put behind bars in July the same year only to be released in June 1991, but went exile in Norway, in October 1991 over fears for his life.

He returned in 1992 to participate in the General Election and this saw him win the Langata parliamentary seat garnering 24, 261 votes.

Raila’s incarceration has normally taken a central part in his political agenda.

Recently while launching a presidential campaign website he revisited the incarceration he and others who fought for constitutional change underent in the 80s.

“Each person who was taken there believed he or she was going to die. And any died,” he said.

A political gamble that Raila took in 1994 to resign from his parliamentary seat after differences with the late Wamalwa Kijana over Ford-K party leadership showed how influential he was in Langata.

He resigned from Ford-K and contested the seat in a by-election on the little known National Development Party.

His national clout may also play a part should he decide to endorse a  preferred candidate who would replace him.

Alongside successfully contesting the Langata parliamentary seat in 1997, he also vied for the presidency and emerged number three behind former President Daniel Moi and DP’s Mwai Kibaki.

Endorsed kibaki

In 2002 he endorsed Kibaki’s bid that saw him trounce Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta at the polls.

As campaigns for the presidency build up, Raila has emerged as one ofthe front runners but what is not in doubt is that he still retains a clout in Langata Constituency politics.

What remains to be seen is whether the Prime Minister will come out and back a successor or will let the campaigns to succeed him in his backyard take their own course.

But whether he decides to have a hand in choosing his successor or not, the people of Langata will contend with a fresh leader for the first time since 1992.