Raila Odinga is one of the most well-known politicians in Kenya. He has tried many times to become the president, but he has never been officially declared the winner.
Even though he has lost several elections, he believes he won some of them but was denied victory by powerful forces. This belief has made him a strong critic of Kenya’s election system, saying that it is not always free and fair.
Odinga has contested for the presidency five times, with the most notable elections being in 2007, 2013, 2017, and 2022.
Each time he lost, he claimed that the elections were not fair and that the results were manipulated. The 2007 election was one of the most violent in Kenya’s history, with widespread fighting that left many people dead and thousands displaced.
After months of chaos, Odinga agreed to join a power-sharing government as the Prime Minister, a position that was created to ease tensions. This was the closest he ever got to the presidency.In the 2013 and 2017 elections, Odinga went to court to challenge the results. In 2013, the court ruled against him, but in 2017, the Supreme Court agreed with him and canceled the election, saying there were too many irregularities.
A fresh election was held, but Odinga refused to participate, arguing that the system had not been fixed and that he would still be rigged out. Despite his boycott, the election went on, and Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner. In 2022, Odinga ran again, this time with the backing of the government.
He lost to William Ruto, but once again, he rejected the results and went to court. The Supreme Court upheld Ruto’s victory, and Odinga had to accept defeat.Odinga believes that powerful individuals and institutions have worked against him in every election.
He has blamed election officials, the government, and even foreign interests for interfering with the results. Many of his supporters also feel that the elections were not free and fair.
Because of this, he has been a strong advocate for electoral reforms to ensure that votes are counted properly and that every election is credible.
Even though he has never been declared the winner of a presidential election, Odinga remains a key figure in Kenyan politics.
He has a large following, and his influence is still strong. His supporters see him as a leader who speaks for them and fights for their rights.
His presence in politics has shaped the country’s democratic space, and whether he runs again or not, his impact will be felt for years to come.
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