Raila Odinga presidential bid gets backing of at least 30 governors

Thirty governors from various parts of the country have backed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s presidential bid.

The announcement to support Raila was made during an Azimio la Umoja consultative forum in Naivasha.

Speaking during the event, Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana said after holding discussions as majority governors in the country, they unanimously decided to support Raila as the Azimio la Umoja flag bearer.

“in the discussion we have had as the majority of governors in our country, we have unanimously decided we will support ‘the fifth’, Honourable Raila Odinga to be the candidate of Azimio,” Kivutha announced.

The governors said Raila’s fight for the country’s liberation that saw him spend eight years of his life in prison was one of the reasons they support his candidature.

The reason we as governors, from our conversation, support his candidature. In the fight for Kenya’s freedom.

People even ...those who do not know... including the young generation and everyone knows that Raila Odinga has fought for the liberation of this country gallantly and he was in detention for eight years of his life.

The governors also said Raila contributed immensely to the realisation of the new constitution and he is the father of devolution.

“He was at the forefront and worked together with other leaders in bringing the 2010 constitution to Kenya and he is really the father of devolution and I think that is undisputed and devolution I will be our saviour and we know, him as a president he will entrench devolution,” Kibwana said.

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu said as governors, they are happy to find someone who can protect the constitution 

"We are happy as governors that we have found a person who can actually defend, protect devolution. We know before we got the new constitution that we used to go begging at the national government. People of Kenya have found out that they can actually get resources when they need it, where they need it and that is because it is embedded in the constitution, Ngilu said.

Ngilu said the person who has been tried and tested and can defend the constitution is Raila. She declared they will ensure Raila becomes president of the country.

"The person who we know has been tested, has been tried and can defend the constitution and defend devolution is none other than 'the fifth' Raila Amolo Odinga," she said.

"We all as governors have come here to say with one voice that we are going to go out there, to make sure that Raila Amolo Odinga is the next president in of the Republic of Kenya," Ngilu added.

The governor for Mombasa County Ali Hassan Joho said anyone who has witnessed the fruits of devolution should vote for Raila.

“Anyone who has seen the benefits has improved his standards of living, has witnessed development, the dynamics of devolution then your vote must be for Raila Amolo Odinga,” Joho said.

Other governors who were in attendance include Lee Kinyanjui, James Ongwae, Martin Wambora, Wycliffe Oparanya, Joseph Ole Lenku, Francis Kimemia, Cyprian Awiti, Anyang' Nyong'o, Anne Kananu among others.