By Chisomo Phiri
NAIROBI-(MaraviPost)-Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has endorsed his former arch-rival for the country’s top job, weeks after their parties joined forces ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections in August.
“We have chosen Raila Odinga, without any opposition, to be the fifth president of Kenya,” Kenyatta told a cheering crowd of thousands in the capital Nairobi.
The move comes weeks after the two leaders’ parties joined forces ahead of a general election in August.
The announcement brings together two of Kenya’s top political dynasties, who have a long history of opposing each other at the ballot box.
In 2018, Kenyatta and Odinga stunned the country when they shook hands and declared a truce after post-election violence in 2017 left dozens of people dead.
Last month, Kenyatta’s Jubilee party announced that it would join the Azimio la Umoja (Quest for Unity) coalition headed by Odinga.
Odinga’s 2022 presidential bid comes after the politician lost four shots at the presidency in 1997, 2007, 2013 and 2017.
But reacting to the development, the Kenyan government has appealed a court ruling that rejected the proposals and said Kenyatta could even be sued in a civil court for launching the process.
Raila Odiga aged 77, is a veteran politician who served as prime minister of Kenya between 2008 and 2013.
