ODM leader Raila Odinga has dismissed assertions that he is waiting for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s endorsement in the upcoming 2022 general elections.

The former prime minister said he has at no time in his political life depended on endorsements to vie for any given seat.

"I am not looking for an endorsement from anyone. I don't depend on endorsements in my life. My whole political career has been about service to the people not endorsements,” he said in an interview with Radio Citizen on Thursday. 

Raila, saying he will not speak of his 2022 plans until after the BBI, added that should he choose to vie, he “will be looking for votes, not endorsements."

"I will be looking for votes from President Uhuru and others if I decide to vie for the Presidency. I will not be looking for endorsements."

The former PM exuded the confidence that the country still has a chance to hold a referendum to implement the BBI recommendations.

He said the timing of the plebiscite should not be a worry since the activity does not require the kind of resources for conducting a general election.

“There is still time for a referendum. We have a year to elections. It can be done even if it gets to December…nothing stops us from doing so,” the ODM leader said.

Raila said he was confident the courts will deliver justice and allow Kenyans to have a say in the proposed constitutional changes.

“If justice is served, reggae will come back. I am ready for the outcome of the courts. If the courts decide against us, we will accept the verdict much as we wouldn’t agree with it,” he said. 

The BBI is seeking to introduce an expanded executive to include a prime minister and two deputies as well as increase the share of revenue to counties to 35 per cent.

Raila said most of the proposals in the BBI document require a vote of the people to either approve or reject the same. By Moses Odhiambo, The Star