Speaking during his mother Mama Ida Odinga’s birthday celebration, Junior directly addressed questions about who was behind his emerging political ambitions.
“People have been asking me whose project I am. I cannot be somebody’s project. I am on my own project, and that is the decision I have taken,” Junior said.
The remarks add a new dimension to Junior’s growing political profile, particularly as he seeks to establish himself independently from the political legacy of his late father, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Raila Junior’s Kibra 2027 Bid
Junior’s declaration comes weeks after he stepped up his campaign for the Kibra parliamentary seat ahead of the 2027 General Election.
On August 3, Junior met elders from all five wards of Kibra Constituency—Laini Saba, Lindi, Makina, Woodley/Kenyatta Golf Course and Sarang’ombe—where he made it clear that he was already planning for the constituency’s future.
“Mimi nafikiria vile kupanga Kibra sasa... Mimi nishaenda mbele, nimeanza kupanga,” he told the elders.
His remarks were widely interpreted as a confirmation that he intends to contest the Kibra parliamentary seat in 2027, bringing an end to months of speculation over whether he would make the jump into elective politics. Recent reports have also described his Kibra activities as an increasingly direct push for the seat.
Following in His Father’s Footsteps
A potential Raila Junior bid for Kibra carries considerable political symbolism.
His late father represented the larger Lang’ata constituency in Parliament from 1992 to 2013, a political base that included the area now covered by Kibra. The constituency itself was created ahead of the 2013 General Election.
Junior’s decision to pursue Kibra therefore places him in a constituency closely associated with his father’s political history.
However, his latest “own project” declaration suggests that he is keen to establish a political identity of his own rather than rely solely on the Odinga name.
Rejecting the ‘Political Project’ Label
In Kenyan politics, the term “project” is often used to describe an individual perceived to be sponsored, promoted or strategically positioned by another politician or political faction.
Junior’s response appears aimed at rejecting that perception.
By declaring that he is “on my own project,” he is presenting his political ambitions as a personal decision rather than an assignment from another political figure.
That distinction could become increasingly important as he campaigns for Kibra and attempts to convince voters that he can carry the Odinga political legacy while also developing his own agenda.
Can Junior Build His Own Political Base?
The biggest test for Raila Junior will be whether he can convert the goodwill associated with his family name into an independent political base.
His recent engagements in Kibra indicate that he is already laying the groundwork.
Beyond meeting elders, Junior has also been reconnecting with political networks and supporters who were closely associated with his father, signalling an attempt to build a grassroots structure ahead of the 2027 contest.
The political environment in Kibra, however, is unlikely to be determined by the Odinga name alone.
The constituency has its own political leadership, community interests and electoral dynamics, meaning Junior will ultimately have to convince voters that he offers more than continuity with his father’s legacy.
For now, his message is unmistakable: he wants to enter politics on his own terms.
“I cannot be somebody’s project,” Junior said.
And as the 2027 General Election approaches, the question is no longer whether Raila Junior is preparing for a political career, but how far his own political project can take him in Kibra.
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