Raila has been hit by a series of political setbacks as he prepares for what he terms the “mother” of all mass demonstrations against President William Ruto's administration.
Apart from mass defections— including in his Nyanza political bedrock — his former key political pillars including regional bigwigs have shunned his anti-government push.
This emerged as President William Ruto on Wednesday talked tough telling Raila he will be personally liable for the security of Kenyans and their property during Monday's mass action.
Raila's Azimio coalition is already battered after Ruto's launched aggressive raids, bagging a number of governors and MPs who have denounced mass action ahead of Monday.
On Wednesday, Trans Nzoia governor George Natembeya vowed that he will not allow mass action in his county affirming his support for the Kenya Kwanza government.
The county boss who was elected to the DAP-K party, a member of Azimio, spoke when he led a delegation of the county leaders to a meeting with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
"There is no room for demonstrations in Trans Nzoia. It is time to work and serve the people,” Natembeya said.
"Ni kazi si story (its work not stories)," he declared later in a tweet.
The governor joined a growing list of Azimio-allied governors who have joined forces with Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration.
The decision by the opposition governors to work with Ruto could jolt the momentum of the Azimio mass action next week as county bosses are perceived to have the war chest to mobilise the grassroots.
Some of the Azimio governors who have skipped Raila's countrywide public rallies include Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Paul Otuoma (Busia), George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia), Amos Nyaribo (Nyamira), Wilber Otichilo(Vihiga) and Gideon Mung'aro(Kilifi).
In Raila's countrywide anti-Ruto rallies, several bigwigs including those who participated in his presidential campaigns, have either snubbed the meetings or declared opposition to the ongoing protests.
Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth, Cotu boss Francis Atwoli, former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and Kanu chairman Gideon Moi, who campaigned with Raila across the country, are among Azimio big guns who have given the rallies a wide berth.
Atwoli, a veteran trade unionist has urged Azimio to join hands and work with the President for the sake of the country's economy and stability.
Many lawmakers are concerned that Raila's faithful supporters are fatigued after his "painful" loss in the presidential polls in August.
The supporters, they say, should now be allowed to “move on” especially because there is little chance of Raila making another stab at the presidency.
However, Raila has vowed to be the sacrificial lamb if that is what will take him to redeem the country from what he has termed as a leadership that is insensitive to the plight of Kenyans.
The opposition leader has listed a raft of demands including the opening of the IEBC servers, lowering the cost of living and halting the hiring of electoral commissioners.
The Star has established that the opposition is crystallising irreducible minimums against Ruto to the agenda for the composition of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
On Tuesday, Raila said he was ready to put his life on the line to redeem the country from what he has termed as an oppressive administration that is insensitive to the suffering of Kenyans.
“Just like Waganda, I have decided to be the sacrificial lamb, but I can’t go on this journey alone. I need my troops behind me because we have to stop some historical injustices in this country once and for all,” Raila said.
During a devastating drought, the Luo elders had to sacrifice a beautiful woman called Waganda to appease the gods for the rains.
She was to be taken to the lake and fed to crocodiles but a goat was offered in her place. The move was successful and it rained.
But a tough-talking Ruto said the government will not interfere with the planned protests in any way but it's incumbent upon Raila to ensure that lives and property are not endangered.
"We have no problem with you organising demonstrations but please it is your responsibility to work with the police to make sure that the rest of the citizens of Kenya, their lives are not disrupted, their property is not destroyed, and their business is not affected, they can go to work (then) you can carry out your demonstrations," Ruto said.
