New faces are quietly emerging in opposition chief Raila Odinga’s circle prompting the five-time presidential contender to make yet another stab at the top seat.
The new force – a cocktail of old guard and new faces – is projecting the ODM boss as the only credible opposition voice capable of unseating President William Ruto, who is expected to defend his seat in 2027.
Members of this fast-shaping politburo include Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo, his National Assembly counterpart Opiyo Wandayi, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, ODM chairman John Mbadi, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Kilifi assembly speaker Teddy Mwambire and Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi.
Also in the team are ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna, Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, MPs Babu Owino (Embakasi East), Caleb Amisi (Saboti), Timothy Wanyonyi (Westlands) and Migori Woman Rep Fatuma Mohammed.
Ex-Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has also assumed new status in Raila’s 2027 project.
The politburo’s mandate is to develop new political strategies and come up with what some insiders have described as a new 'Raila wave'.
The ex-Prime Minister is also expanding his political networks and is set for elaborate visits countrywide as he prepares for a do-or-die political battle.
It is understood Raila is equally propelling new regional heavyweights to replace his old hands in the troubled Azimio coalition who vanished immediately after he lost to President Ruto.
Sifuna, a firebrand in Raila’s circle, has emerged as the number one confidant of the ODM leader and is among the very few individuals who have his ear.
The Nairobi senator has assumed the official master of ceremonies role in almost all of Raila’s public engagements – a role that was the preserve for Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, who has taken a back seat.
Governor Nassir, an experienced hand in politics and a seasoned lawmaker, has been crucial in galvanising Coast in the absence of his predecessor Hassan Joho.
Nassir's efforts have been supplemented by Senator Madzayo - a former judge who successfully transitioned to politics.
Mnyazi and Chonga - political firebrands who are serving their first term in Parliament - have also been part of Raila's trusted team at the Coast.
Alongside Madzayo, they were among six Azimio legislators who were arrested when leading anti-government protests in Nairobi last year.
Observers hold that even though Joho remains Raila's deputy on paper, he has been silently drifting away from the centre of the formation.
The details of the well-knit cabal led by Governor Nassir and Senator Sifuna came to the surface during the recent activities of the former Prime Minister across the country.
Raila has been leading ODM membership registration in several counties since late last year.
Observers believe the engagements are meant to build momentum for Raila's possible presidential declaration.
According to Nassir, Raila is the only leader with the credentials to take on the failed Kenya Kwanza leadership and defeat it in the next contest.
Raila has remained tight-lipped on his political game plan and not even his close allies in Azimio know what he has up his sleeve.
In Western, Osotsi and Amisi alongside Oparanya have withstood the Kenya Kwanza wave in the region to do the groundwork for Raila, who won in all the Luhya counties except Bungoma.
The team has accompanied Raila to at least 10 counties and he continues to keep them very close as he consolidates countrywide support for his Orange party.
But political analyst Martin Andati dismissed the team as having no influence as the majority will be using Raila’s candidature to secure their reelection.
“Those people don’t have much influence; those are people who basically got the seats by hanging on Raila. To them, another Raila candidature means it is easy for them to hang on, get the ticket and their seats,” Andati said on the phone.
“It is about self-preservation; most of them don’t have any serious political gravitas on their own.”
The emergence of the new team of advisers has somehow pushed to the back seat some of the seasoned and long-term trusted lieutenants who were in the front row during his fifth unsuccessful stab.
Political risk analyst Dismas Mokua, however, cautioned that the old allies who may feel sidelined by the coming of new blood might find a reason to cross over to Kenya Kwanza.
"There is a high probability that Mr Odinga’s key supporters and leaders who feel sidelined by the entry of young and ambitious politicians will either abandon Mr Odinga or proactively sabotage his 2027 presidential interests," he told the Star.
"These supporters and leaders who feel abandoned may serve Mr Odinga cold revenge by aligning with Kenya Kwanza."
Some of Raila's former allies who have taken a low profile include Junet, Joho, former presidential candidate Peter Kenneth and Kanu party leader Gideon Moi.
Kanu SG Nick Salat, Narc leader Charity Ngilu former Starehe MP Maina Kamanda are also among leaders who have snubbed Odinga since he lost to President William Ruto.
Also missing are ex-Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, EALA lawmaker Kanini Kega, Eldas MP Adan Keynan and Kajiado Central MP Memusi Kanchory.
Mokua, while acknowledging that Raila should put in place a new team for the possible sixth term, however called on the ODM leader to devise a way of keeping past allies who have stood with him.
"Mr Odinga's kitchen cabinet treated most national leaders who have hitherto supported Mr Odinga to the hilt with octane contempt," he said.
Makadara MP George Aladwa, a key Raila ally, protested that some politicians had decided to take Raila for granted when he needed them most.
Aladwa, who chairs the ODM county chairpersons forum, insisted that Azimio members and especially the Orange party bigwigs must lead from the front instead of ducking.
“There is no way people can forsake Raila at his hour of most need,” he said.
But speaking to the Star on the phone, Sifuna declined to be drawn into the internal politics of the party saying their focus is to bring more members into the ODM ship.
“Our focus is on new members. Those who are in the bus and have decided to take a back seat are still in the bus,” he told the Star.
“Ours is trying to get people in the bus, and the response has been very positive across the country. People are joining in droves, that is now our focus.”
Despite looking like he's keen on a new team, the former Prime Minister has continued to send confounding signals about his ties with the bigwigs with whom he formed Azimio.