In Kenya, President Wants Opposition Leader As Successor Amid Row With Deputy

Kenyans go to the polls on August 9 to elect a new president given as the second and final term of Uhuru Kenyatta ends after the vote.

The president has as widely expected endorsed the official opposition leader, Raila Odinga, who became his ally in 2017.

It seals the split between Kenyatta and his two-time Deputy President William Ruto, who became a victim of the Kenyatta-Odinga bromance.

Ruto has for over a year now been campaigning under the banner of a new party, the United Democratic Alliance, UDA, which runs under the banner of hustler nation - reference to its preference for the ordinary man.

Raila on the other hand, running for the fifth consecutive time, will lead the Azimio la Umoja [Swahili for Alliance of Unity] Alliance.

It comprises his own party, the Orange Democratic Movement, ODM, Jubilee Party of new ally Uhuru and eight smaller parties.

According to Kenyatta, Odinga was best placed to become next president because he understood the challenges that the East African giant faced.