Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has asked Kenyans to pray for Raila Odinga following his loss in the presidential race.
The August 9 polls were Raila's fifth presidential bid after four previous unsuccessful attempts in 1997, 2007, 2013 and 2017.
"Dear Kenyans, with all due respect to the nation and to my friend Raila Odinga, and despite all that has been going on in the past and is going on now, I think it's high time we put Baba in prayers as a country," Sonko said in tweet on Wednesday.
The 77-year-old ODM boss is a revered political genius with a near-fanatical following across the country.
However, the closest he has come to power is by finishing second in four of the five presidential contests.
His only 'taste' of power was when he served as prime minister in the grand-coalition government that was formed after the disputed 2007 elections which the late Mwai Kibaki won.
Raila lost twice to President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013 and 2017 and lost to Deputy President William Ruto in the 2022 polls.
Ruto garnered 7,176,141 votes in his first presidential bid translating to 50.49 per cent of the total valid votes.
Raila on the other hand received 6,942,930 votes translating to 48.85 per cent of the final tally.
The results were announced by IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya on Monday, August 15, 2022.
Raila, however, disputed the results and said he will file a petition at the Supreme Court.
"Our view in Azimio is clear. The figures announced by Mr. Chebukati are null and void and must be quashed by a court of law," Raila said.
