Edwin Sifuna Explains How Gachagua Can Make Raila Odinga President in 2027
- Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna insisted that ODM leader Raila Odinga should vie again in the upcoming 2027 General Election
- Sifuna shared an analysis on how former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua might be important in Raila's presidential ambition
- According to Sifuna, Gachagua will not vie in 2027, but his political moves might help the former prime minister
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secretary general Edwin Sifuna has shared his views regarding the 2027 General Election.
Source: Facebook
During an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday, July 22, Sifuna expressed confidence that his party leader, Raila Odinga, has a high chance of defeating President William Ruto.
Can Gachagua vie in 2027?
The Nairobi senator dismissed claims that the former deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, might be on the 2027 presidential ballot.
However, Sifuna pointed out that Gachagua might be of tremendous value to the former prime minister's presidential bid.
According to the ODM SG, the divorce between Ruto and Gachagua is helping in taking away votes that contributed to Raila's loss in 2022.
"Former DP Gachagua is impeached; he cannot run. I do not understand why people talk about him as a viable candidate. The value proposition for Gachagua for me, from an ODM perspective, is that he is taking away votes that helped beat us in 2022. For as long as Ruto’s votes are being scattered, that is all I care about," Sifuna stated.
How can Raila Odinga win in 2027?
Sifuna argued that what is important to the ODM party is for Gachagua to continue taking away votes that helped make Ruto president in 2022, such as the Mt. Kenya voting bloc.
He argued that if the former prime minister manages to get the same votes he garnered in 2022 and Ruto loses Mt. Kenya votes, then Raila will be Kenya's sixth president.
"For as long as he is taking away votes from Ruto, I don’t care where he takes them; he is not giving William Ruto. If Raila Odinga were to get the exact same number of votes that he got in 2022 in 2027 and William Ruto loses Mt Kenya, Raila will be President. That is how I see it as SG," he argued.
Source: Facebook
Is the Ruto-Raila deal hurting the ODM party?
At the same time, the Nairobi senator warned about the current partnership between the ODM party and UDA.
In a recent interview, the former prime minister was categorical that he would support Ruto until the 2027 General Election.
However, Sifuna warned that the Ruto-Raila alliance may compromise the Orange Party’s readiness for the upcoming election.
He argued that the party might not have enough time to prepare for the election, which has been projected to be very competitive.
According to the vocal senator, the ODM party intends to field a presidential candidate in 2027, but that can only make sense if the party ditches the broad-based government on time.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
