‘Focus on marketing yourself, let voters decide who is best to succeed Raila’ – Karua tells Kalonzo

Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has advised her Wiper counterpart Kalonzo Musyoka to focus on marketing himself to the electorates.

Karua's sentiments were in response to a local publication's report quoting Kalonzo saying he was the best man to lead the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition after Raila was elected as African Union Commission chairman (AUC).

But in her response through her official X account, Karua said the voters will decide who will lead the coalition should Raila exit.

"My unsolicited advice to my brother Kalonzo Musyoka is to focus on marketing himself and leave the decision of who is best to the voters," Karua wrote.

Succession politics

Raila's AUC bid has seen the rise of succession politics from both the coalition and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Two days ago, Narc Kenya endorsed its party leader as Raila's successor in the coalition.

The party emphasised their commitment to the coalition and promised to support Martha wholeheartedly until she attained the position.

"Now they should know that our president will be from Narc Kenya in 2027 because Raila is aiming for a higher position; bigger than the Kenyan presidency. So, we will support Martha Karua wholeheartedly until she attains that position," the party said.

A section of ODM members including former Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho have also expressed their desires to succeed Raila as the party's kingpin.

In his declaration, Joho noted that he was the best opposition politician to succeed Raila Odinga as the ODM leader because he had been loyal to the party since its formation.

"There are fundamental factors that we have over the period been able to learn from our party leader and our father Raila Odinga. We have already inherited courage, democracy, values of putting Kenyans first and fighting for citizens," Joho said.

"Since I ventured into politics, I have been under one person, Raila Amollo Odinga. Since I started my politics in 2004, I've never left (Raila). So I know the values Raila holds. I heard someone say I came recently. I am a founder member of ODM," he added.

He also noted that he had sacrificed so much including risking his life due to the loyalty he had for the party, he also noted that the opposition party should form the next government.

"No one in this country has gone through political turmoil in this country for standing with ODM and Raila Odinga more than me," Joho said.

Joho's remarks came after Raila endorsed him and former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya to succeed him if he lands the AUC job.

"I'm here with Governors (Wycliffe) Oparanya and Ali Hassan Joho. They will come together (to lead ODM). A party with a strong foundation cannot crumble just because one person has left. I am confident that these (two) will continue driving the party agenda even though I'll be in Addis Ababa. If they want advice, I am ready. ODM will remain intact," Raila stated.