- According to Raila, he has only run four serious elections out of the five and he only lost the first one because he was testing the waters.
- He went on to note that he takes pride in the fact that he has never lost any election because his victory is always stolen.
Image: PCS
Azimio leader Raila Odinga has opened up on his take on the outcomes of elections he has participated in, as a candidate.
Speaking on Tuesday, Raila while responding to a question during a meeting with youths who had met him insisted that he has only lost one election in the five he has been a candidate.
The youth had asked what the former Prime Minister felt about being 'unlucky for the fifth time'.
According to Raila, he has only run four serious elections out of the five and he only lost the first one because he was testing the waters.
He went on to note that he takes pride in the fact that he has never lost any election because his victory is always stolen.
"I only ran five times, but seriously only four times. The real-time I lost is when I ran for the first time because I was just going to jog just to get to know and I came number three, but I've never lost," he said.
"That is my pride and that is what gives me satisfaction and I can say it even when they are here that you know you didn't win and they know they didn't win."
He stated that former Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) Hamida Kibwana revealed to the Star that the results announced in favour of former President Mwai Kibaki (late) in 2007 were not the real results.
The Opposition chief added that even the results announced by former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chair Wafula Chebukati were not the real results.
"You saw the commissioners testifying at the Bomas of Kenya saying the truth that we did not announce the real results. You saw Hamida Kibwana yesterday writing in the Star telling you that the results Samuel Kivuitu announced were not the results. Even the results Wafula Chebukati announced were not the results," Raila said.
Hamida, who is currently a nominated Senator on Monday revealed to the Star, in an interview that the 2007 results were grossly manipulated in favour of Kibaki.
The lawmaker revealed how ECK chairman Samuel Kivuitu (deceased) was subdued and intimated to declare Kibaki the winner.
Raila in his response added that what has kept him going despite these developments is the Kenyan spirit.
"Kenyans deserve better and working this way, we will be able to strengthen democracy in Kenya and one day Kenyans will have free, fair, open and transparent elections," he said.
Raila has participated in five high state elections in Kenya where came in third at his first attempt at the country's top job.
In 2007, Mwai Kibaki, the then incumbent was controversially announced winner of the hotly contested election.
This led to the formation of the grand coalition government after Raila challenged Kibaki's victory, a move that led to post-election violence.
In 2013 and 2017 presidential polls, Raila lost to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, and in 2022 he lost to William Ruto.