Raila's Anti-Moi Party Picks Orengo as Presidential Candidate
Siaya Governor James Orengo has unveiled a party formed by the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga to oust KANU from power as his political vehicle for the 2027 General Election.
Orengo made the declaration in Golini, Kwale County, during during a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) meeting hosted by a diplomat, veteran politician and former Transport minister Ambassador Chirau Ali Mwakwere..
The LDP is an old political party associated with Raila Odinga in 2002. It joined the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) in the campaign against KANU in that year’s General Election.
Raila formed the LDP after defecting from KANU (where he was the Secretary-General) following the move by then-President Daniel arap Moi to select Uhuru Kenyatta as his presidential successor.
He was joined by other prominent politicians like former Vice Presidents Kalonzo Musyoka, George Saitoti, and Dr Moody Awori among other high ranking individuals that served in the then Moi era government.
Later, the LDP joined with Mwai Kibaki's party (NAK) and other parties to form the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), which won the December 2002 general election and ousted KANU from power.
Orengo first ran for president in the 2002 general election on the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ticket, finishing fourth with approximately 0.4% of the total vote (24,537 votes) behind Mwai Kibaki (NARC), Uhuru Kenyatta (KANU), and former Finance Minister Ford People's Simeon Nyachae.
Orengo decided to go for the presidency he differed with Raila Odinga the then defacto leader of LDP and opposed the decision to back Mwai Kibaki's National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) in 2002.
Orengo has re-launched the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) saying it will work with other opposition parties that would present a united front to challenge the incumbent President William Ruto in next year’s election.
“Sisi sote tuko pamoja na vile vyama vingine vya Kalonzo, Wiper, na Ukombozi, ya Jubilee ya Matiang’i. Yote lazima tujumuike tukae pamoja, la sivyo huyo Ruto, kama kuna mtu anajua kuiba kura,” he said.
Chirau Ali Mwakwere added, “Kila mmoja atengeze ajenge nyumba yake, kila nyumba iwe na kiongozi wake, alafu viongozi watatoka pamoja wakate shauri ni nani atakayekuwa mwenyekiti wa kijiji chetu.”