The kick-off of Raila Odinga's fifth presidential bid in front of around 100 000 people in Nairobi's Kasarani stadium on 10 December may have displayed 'Baba's' undimmed capacity to draw a crowd but did little to assuage fears that his coalition is currently broad but shallow...

The grand plan to parachute veteran oppositionist Raila Odinga into the presidency in the elections next August has run into powerful headwinds...

In an opinion poll released on 19 November by the TIFA market research agency in Nairobi Ruto was leading with 38% over the other three contenders: Raila Odinga (23%) Musalia Mudavadi (2%) Kalonzo Musyoka (1%)...

Then other Kikuyu a minority for now are warming up to Raila Odinga...

The alliance between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga is a political and historical oddity a marriage of duelling dynasties that could still fail...

That friendship was briefly broken in 2007-08 when Uhuru and Ruto campaigned for opposing Presidential candidates: Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga respectively...

All that changed after Kenyatta's 'handshake' with Raila Odinga in 2018 (AC Vol 59 No 6 Raila beats rivals to a new deal)...

With less than ten months before the presidential elections next year the two leading contenders are almost certain to be veteran oppositionist Raila Odinga now 'handshake' partner to President Uhuru Kenyatta who will face Kenyatta's deputy William Ruto...

It was he argued his January 2018 'handshake' with veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga that had 'cooled political temperatures' (AC Vol 62 No 21 Raila beats Ruto as the oligarchs' favourite)...

Of the two frontrunners Raila Odinga benefitted hugely in his Kibra stronghold a constituency in Nairobi county when President Uhuru Kenyatta endorsed him late last month...

Addressing hundreds of residents from the sun-roofs of their armoured SUVs and donning similar Kenyan-made cotton print loose-fitting shirts Kenyatta speaking the language of peace and continuity turned to Raila Odinga his 'Handshake' partner and to roars of approval declared that only Odinga could guarantee his legacy (AC Vol 59 No 6 Raila beats rivals to a new deal)...

Murungi harbours no presidential ambitions of his own for 2022 quickly using his new party to endorse Raila Odinga...

The oligarchs perched on Mount Kenya In an historic shift some of the most successful business people in the country are backing Raila Odinga and rallying others to support him...

His relationship with Raila Odinga blossomed in the early 1990s it is said when the latter went to collect money on behalf of his father...

The naming of Kenyatta and the reminder that his family is the wealthiest in Kenya is helpful for would-be presidential candidates Raila Odinga and William Ruto both of whom have acquired vast wealth largely unexplained via their political careers (AC Vol 62 No 14 Why the dynasties fear Ruto & Vol 62 No 18 Raila takes to the pulpit)...