The former presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye has met his counterpart in Kenya, Raila Odinga and deliberated how they can best capture power in their respective countries. The two met in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
“It was great catching up with my long-time friend Dr. Kizza Besigye. Dr. Besigye and I discussed the liberation dream that is still being pursued in many of our nations. I commend him for staying focused on the well-being of our people,” Odinga said.
Besigye participated in Uganda’s 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016 presidential elections and lost all of them to the incumbent Yoweri Museveni, who has been President of Uganda since 26th January 1986.
Besigye has been Museveni’s strongest opponent, accusing the government of widespread corruption and pushing for an end to Museveni’s ‘Movement’ system. He has since organized various campaigns such as walk to work peddled at ousting Museveni out of power however none of them has worked.
He has for multiple times been arrested and charged however the court has not convicted him.
In tandem, Odinga has been the Leader of Opposition in Kenya since 2013 though the New Constitution of Kenya does not prescribe for such a position.
He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Langata from 1992 to 2007. Raila Odinga served in the Cabinet of Kenya as Minister for Energy from 2001 to 2002 and as the Minister for Roads, Public Works and Housing from 2003 to 2005. Odinga was appointed High Representative for Infrastructure Development at the African Union Commission in 2018.
He was the main opposition candidate in the 2007 presidential election, running against the then incumbent Mwai Kibaki. In the subsequent presidential election five years later he placed second against Uhuru Kenyatta, garnering 5,340,546 votes, which represented 43.28% of the total votes cast.
He made another attempt for the presidency in August 2017 against Uhuru Kenyatta and Uhuru Kenyatta stole votes. Kenyatta’s election was annulled by the Supreme Court following findings that the election was marred by illegalities and irregularities. Court Ordered for fresh election however Oding declined to participate.
