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I will not retire from politics, Raila Odinga vows to soldier on

**Azimio la Umoja leade Raila Odinga** **addressing the Press on the up Coming Rallies in Nairobi on December 05, 2022.** [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

ODM leader Raila Odinga has declared that he is not retiring from active politics any time soon.

Raila who spoke when he visited his sister Akinyi Wenwa at her home in Oyugis town, Homa Bay County, on Monday, dismissed those who have been piling pressure on him to quit politics.

“I will not bow down to pressure from anyone who wants me to retire. There are people who want me to go back to Bondo. What they don’t know is that I know the road leading to Bondo better than they do,” Raila said.

He told his supporters to have hope in him as he continues to oversight the government of President William Ruto.

“I am putting the government in check and I will remain firm in that, to ensure Kenyans get the services they deserve,” Raila said.

He added: “I remain steadfast in ensuring Kenyans get good leadership. Those who want me to go back to Bondo should know that I will go there on my own when the time comes, not because of their demands for me.”

At the same time, Raila revisited the last election saying he won but was shortchanged by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) which declared his competitor, President Ruto, the winner. He said those criticising him after he failed to clinch the presidency on August 9 do not know what happened.

Raila said that had there not been electoral malpractices, he would have been declared the winner.

“There are so many things which happened during the election,” he said adding that the high number of elected leaders his party got is an indication he won the election.

“Through which avenue would they have defeated us?” Raila said.

Raila vowed he will never accept President Ruto’s victory in the recent General election saying he was not defeated fairly.