Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement has distanced itself from its MPs’ support for Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
Over the weekend, several ODM MPs led by Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, announced a plan to back DP Ruto for his 2022 presidential bid.
DP Ruto was winding up his three day tour at the coast.
On Monday, however, ODM secretary-general Edwin Sifuna said the party’s position is “that we will not discuss 2022 politics” and as such, the statements attributed to the legislators were their personal opinions.
“We are focused on electoral justice, which is a subject of the proposed dialogue between H. E Raila (Odinga) and Uhuru (Kenyatta) and further on getting justice for the victims of police brutality following the 2017 elections,” said Mr Sifuna as quoted by the Daily Nation.
Raila in 2022
On Sunday, Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja, and MPs Aisha Jumwa (Malindi), Jones Mlolwa (Voi), Ali Mbogo (Kisauni) and Danson Mwashako (Wundanyi) said they would support Mr Ruto in 2022.
They spoke during a fundraiser at St Barnabas Anglican Church in Voi, Taita Taveta County.
Ms Jumwa, who was fierce critic of President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto in the run-up to the 2017 elections, said she would stand behind the DP.
Earlier when he spoke to Pulselive.co.ke in an exclusive interview, Mr Sifuna rubbished earlier calls by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya to Mr Odinga to quit politics, even as critics warn that Mr Odinga would still be on the ballot in 2022.
