While Raila Odinga comes from a famous family in Kenya, the political crown has eluded him throughout his decades-long career – just as it eluded his father, who served as vice-president after independence from the UK.
Aged 77, Mr Odinga will make his fifth attempt at the presidency in the August9 elections, having come closest to power in 2008 when he was appointed prime minister.
Mr Odinga has a passionate following, and his adoring fans have nicknamed him “Baba” (Father), “Agwambo” (Act of God) and “Tinga” (Tractor) – drawn from his party symbol in 1997 elections.
His signature slow-motion dance to reggae songs during his rallies has been dubbed “The Raila Dance”.
A supporter of England’s Arsenal football club, Mr Odinga forms a new political outfit in every election. He is contesting this election under the banner of Azimio la Umoja, Swahili for Pledge of Unity, as he tries to win over supporters of outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The two men – who represent the two biggest political dynasties in Kenya – were fierce rivals in the 2017 election, but made up the following year at a highly publicised event dubbed The Handshake.
Mr Odinga is now promising to advance Mr Kenyatta’s development agenda and improve the lives of vulnerable Kenyans by giving them a 6,000 Kenyan shillings ($50; £40) monthly stipend from a new social protection fund, if he is elected president.
Money for the fund, he says, will come by cracking down on widespread corruption.
Mr Odinga has also promised to provide affordable healthcare through what he calls “Baba Care”, promoting himself as a fatherly figure in a nation of more than 56 million.
It is unclear if this is going to be the 77-year-old’s last attempt at the presidency.
He previously described his 2017 presidential bid as his “last bullet”.
But he explained his U-turn in an interview with BBC Focus on Africa TV’s Sophie Ikenye in March 2022, by saying Kenyans had “asked him to run for president again because of the great faith” they had in him.
Mr Odinga has chosen former Justice Minister Martha Karua as his running mate. This is seen as historic – it is the first time a presidential front-runner has chosen a female deputy. -BBC
