Lawyer Willis Otieno has suggested that with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga stepping back from Kenya’s political scene to focus on his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship, businessman Jimi Wanjigi is poised to become the new face of the opposition.
Odinga, who has long been the de facto leader of Kenya’s opposition, has made five unsuccessful attempts at the presidency, including in the 2022 general election where he was defeated by President William Ruto. Following the contested election and Odinga’s unsuccessful petition to the Supreme Court, President Ruto has endorsed Odinga for the AUC role, with a formal announcement expected on August 27.
Wanjigi, the leader of the Safina Party, has recently been at odds with the state over allegations of sponsoring youth-led anti-government protests and accusations of illegal firearm possession. Despite these challenges, Otieno, who represents Wanjigi, asserts that the opposition is “in a good state” under Wanjigi’s leadership.
“Jimi Wanjigi is now the face of opposition in this country… (Odinga) has left him to take care of the opposition. We are about to transition into a new era of politics whereas Raila has been used as a bogeyman for the opposition, we are now moving into issue-based politics,” the lawyer told Citizen TV’s Daybreak program on Thursday.
He described Odinga as “the most consequential politician in the country since independence,” saying “he has shaped all our political developments and has moulded all our political developments more than other politicians.”
“His exit from politics will have a significant impact,” Otieno added.
Odinga on Wednesday announced he will not be actively involved in Kenyan politics if he clinches the AUC chairmanship next year.
“You know that I will begin working for the continent once I am elected in February next year. At the moment, I am involved in the campaigns, but that does not mean that Kenya will cease to exist,” he told journalists in Nairobi.
“I will not be very active in Kenyan politics henceforth as I shift my attention to the continental campaigns. It is a transitional phase from active participation in Kenyan politics to a focus on African continental politics.”
Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni are among the regional leaders who have endorsed Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship. Odinga aims to succeed Chad’s Moussa Faki, whose term ends next year. Should Odinga secure the position, he will serve from 2025 to 2028.
In the meantime, the High Court has temporarily suspended Jimi Wanjigi’s prosecution related to the illegal possession of various firearms. On Tuesday, Justice Bahati Mwamuye halted all criminal proceedings connected to the alleged firearm confiscations by police and directed the firearms licensing board not to revoke any of Wanjigi’s certificates. Wanjigi asserts that his prosecution is politically motivated.
