Raila to critics: I am going nowhere!

Prominent politician Raila Odinga has dismissed calls asking him to retire from politics.

The ODM leader has now appealed to his Luo community to ignore leaders and politicians championing his exit from the political stage.

Raila argued that many of the politicians who called for him to quit active politics are not aware of what transpired in the presidential election on August 9.

He said even his age should not be used to push him out of Kenyan politics.

“There are people who keep on telling me to go back to Bondo. Don’t give them your ears because they don’t understand that I know the road leading to Bondo better than they do,” Raila said.

But speaking when he visited his sister Akinyi Wenwa in her home in Oyugis town, Homa Bay on Monday, Odinga said he will not bow to pressure from any politician who wants him to retire.

In what implied that Raila is not quitting politics any time soon, he told his supporters to have hope in him as he continues to exercise oversight on the government of President Ruto.

The ODM leader was in the company of his brother Oburu Oginga and sister Ruth Odinga. Others were Homa Bay DG Oyugi Magwanga and MP Ongondo Were(Kasipul ).

Raila argued that he is still firm and putting the government to task and ensuring Kenyans get the justice and services they deserve.

“I am still here to ensure that Kenyans get good leadership and services they deserve. Critics should know that I will go to Bondo on my own time, not because of their demand,” he added.

Raila insisted that he is the one who was overwhelmingly voted for by Kenyans in the presidential election even though the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared Ruto as the winner.

He said those who are criticising him for failing to clinch the presidential seat do not understand what happened in the election. Raila described Ruto as too young to defeat him in the election.

The opposition leader said the high number of elected leaders in his party imply he won the election.

“People who are just criticising me for not winning the seat do not know what happened. I will tell Kenyans what transpired in the new year,” he said.

Oburu asked Luos to continue supporting Raila on the ground so that he will one day succeed in his quest.

“Let’s not be cheated to abandon the journey before we reach the destination,” Oburu said.

Ruth told Raila’s critics not to use his naming to seek appointments in Ruto’s government.

“Residents will not fall for relief food you’re giving them for votes,” she said.

Raila lost the election to President William Ruto in his fifth attempt.

Since he lost, Raila has received criticism from some politicians from his Nyanza backyard as others tell him to go back to his village home in Bondo constituency.

The pressure has been high on him to quit and allow others to take over.

Nyanza politicians like former governors Jack Ranguma (Kisumu) and Okoth Obado (Migori), former Kisumu Senator Fred Outa, former MPs Omondi Anyanga (Nyatike), Martin Ogindo (Rangwe), Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda), and former chairman of Lake Basin Development Authority Odoyo Owidi have criticised Raila’s continuous activeness in politics.

They have openly stated that they will work closely with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

They did this while accompanying Cabinet Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy Eliud Owalo in the distribution of relief food in four Luo Nyanza counties like Homa Bay, Migori, Kisumu, and Saiya.