Duncan Miriri

NAIROBI, Reuters – On Friday, Raila Odinga (an old opposition leader) launched his fifth attempt at Kenyan presidency with support from President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The next election will be held in August, but Kenyatta is not expected to vote due to her constitutional limit of five years and two-year terms.

Odinga thanked Kenyatta after they established the dialog four years ago, following a long dispute over the 2017 election.

His words were heard by tens to thousands of fans gathered at Nairobi’s major sports arena.

Supporters dressed in the orange-blue colors of Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement, (ODM), danced and sang at the rally. Some held up national flags and waved their party banners.

Odinga led his supporters in protesting the results or challenging them in court during his three previous runs for office, in 2007 and 2013. He claimed that his wins were stolen. Following the 2017 and 2007 elections, there were violent clashes.

However, he reached an agreement with Kenyatta at the beginning of 2018, effectively eliminating William Ruto, Kenyatta’s deputy. Ruto has long been vocal about his ambitions to become president.

Many ministers attended, as well as other high-ranking officials. Vice chairperson of Kenyatta’s Jubilee party addressed the crowd. This was a sign that the president is supportive.

Odinga presented an outline of a strategy to increase socioeconomic wellbeing and promised to fight poverty.

Ruto left Jubilee, and now runs on a party called United Democratic Alliance. (UDA). Ruto is from an ethnic group within the Rift valley.

Odinga, Ruto and others have been fighting it out on campaign trails, particularly in central Kenya where Kenyatta has ethnic Kikuyu votes up for grabs.

Ruto stood alongside Odinga when police brutality and ethnic clashes turned into violence killed over 1,000 victims in the post-election violence. Ruto joined Kenyatta as a team in 2013.

Odinga was supported by numerous central region ministers and business tycoons. Ruto is supported by most elected officials in the region.

Odinga is promoting his extensive experience as a leader in the country, which includes a tenure as prime minister. Odinga has promised to end widespread corruption, pay a monthly stipend worth 6,000 shillings ($53), to unemployed people, and to unite Kenya’s different ethnicities.

Ruto pledged that he would focus his attention on the poor in case he is elected.

($1 = 112.8000 Kenyan shillings)