I can still use arrow, machete after using my 2017 bullet – Raila

Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga has defended his move to run for the presidential election for the fifth time despite having promised to run for the last time in 2017.

Speaking at an interview with BBC, Raila said that his choice to run in the 2022 general election was informed by the request by Kenyans to compete for the presidency one more time.

“Lakini mimi nimeulizwa na wakenya wote Karnataka niendelee kwa sababu ya ile imani wako nayo na mimi kwa hivyo nimeamua nitaendelea (I have been asked by Kenyans to run for the office for another term because they still believe in me),” Raila said.

Raila’s statement comes five years after he asked Kenyans to vote for him one last time in the 2017 election. He claimed that it was his “last bullet” to take a shot at clinching the country’s presidency.

According to Wiper Party leader and other former Nasa principals – Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Moses Wetangula (Ford Kenya), the ODM boss had vowed to compete for the elections in 2017 so that he can pass the mantle to other principals within Nasa, a coalition with has since collapsed.

Asked why he changed his mind after making such a declaration, the former Prime Minister noted that though he had used his last bullet in the last election but still had some tools of war to face his opponents in the coming elections.

“Ingawa bunduki inawezaishiwa na risasi lakini hio haimanishi hauwezitumia visu ya mashete, uta au mishale (though I might have run out of bullets, that doesn’t mean I can not use other weapons such as a machete and spears),” he said.