ODM leader Raila Odinga to launch presidential campaign in Thika on Saturday

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga will campaign in Thika on Saturday as he embarks on this year's campaign trail with 8 months to go to the election.

Odinga, who met a group of youth from Kiambu County on Tuesday, said the Thika meeting will bring on board other counties from the Central Kenya region before a roll-out of the campaign to other regions.

“Jumamosi hii tunaenda Thika…we’re going to have our first public engagement in 2022 in Thika,” he said.

Odinga's first rally for his 2022 presidential bid that is to be held in President Uhuru Kenyatta's home turf of Kiambu County has been termed as symbolic by his campaign handlers as he maintains his push for support in the Mt. Kenya region.

“Kwa hivyo Jumamosi hii barabara zote zinaelekea Thika...tunakwenda kuongea na watu wa Kiambu na kuwaambia Azimio la Umoja imefika,” he stated.

Odinga's 2022 presidential campaign board chaired by Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi held a meeting on Monday to among other things, lay down structures and consolidate his itinerary that kicks off in Thika on Saturday.

But before the Thika event, Odinga is scheduled to hold meetings in Taita Taveta on Friday.

“This is not Raila Odinga seeking employment as the president of Kenya, I want to partner with you so that we can be able to bring change to our country,” said the ODM chief.

Odinga rallied the youth behind his campaigns promising to turn the tables and sort out the unemployment menace once and for all.

“Every year we will push you into the labour market, nearly 1 million people…the youth who are leaving schools at the level of primary, secondary, tertiary, or university…this 1 million cannot be employed by 70,000 vacancies available in the public sector,” said Odinga.

Scholar Prof. Makau Mutua, on his part, said: “Our platform as a campaign, what Raila is running on, is a society that is inclusive. A society that no child will be left behind, a society in which whether you come from Kiambu or Mandera or West Pokot, you will exercise the full rights of citizenship.”

Leaders allied to Odinga called on the country to fully back the Azimio la Umoja movement and shun leaders spreading hate.