More than a decade after Kenya’s most disputed presidential election, a fresh revelation by MP Caroli Omondi has reignited debate around the 2007 polls that plunged the country into post-election violence.
Speaking on the controversial election that saw Mwai Kibaki declared winner amid widespread allegations of rigging, Omondi insisted that ODM leader Raila Odinga had decisively won the contest.
“Raila won that election fair and square,” Omondi said in a recent interview with a local broadaster.
According to the legislator, the numbers on the ground overwhelmingly favoured Raila Odinga, both politically and geographically.
“We Had the Numbers”
Omondi broke down what he described as irrefutable evidence of Raila’s victory, stating that Kenya had eight provinces at the time which Raila won six of, while also securing 96 parliamentary seats of 210 plus 10 more through affiliates.
“So he had majority MPs. He had majority provinces by a wide margin. He had majority councillors. So we had the numbers,” Omondi stated.
Following the announcement of Kibaki as winner, Omondi revealed that ODM’s initial position was to reject legal redress altogether.
“The initial push was that we are not going to court. Kibaki must resign. We need a rerun. He lost,” he said.
As tensions escalated, the country descended into chaos, with violence erupting across several regions.
“Of course the violence erupted. It became very chaotic. Our people were planning what next.”
The Secret Swearing-In Plan
Perhaps the most explosive revelation was Omondi’s disclosure that plans were already in motion to swear in Raila Odinga as president.
“Many people don’t know we had planned a proper swearing-in for Raila. A judge was ready to swear him in.”
According to Omondi, a High Court judge, described as a respected figure who “paid the price for the liberation of this country”, had agreed to preside over the ceremony. A date had allegedly been set, supporters mobilised, and security arrangements discussed.
“The people were ready to protect Raila. In fact, at that time the arrangement was we will not surrender our victory.”
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