<p>Veteran Kenyan politician Raila Odinga announced Friday he would make his fifth bid for the presidency in next year's election, ending months of suspense following a surprise truce with his former foe, President Uhuru Kenyatta.</p>.<p>The announcement at a Nairobi stadium packed with political bigwigs and thousands of supporters followed speculation that the 76-year-old -- who was the face of Kenya's opposition for decades -- had struck a power-sharing deal with Kenyatta to secure his backing for the top job.</p>.<p>"I do hereby accept to present myself as a presidential candidate for the presidential elections of the 9th of August 2022," he declared to loud cheers, adding that he was committed to building a "democratic and progressive Kenya in our lifetime".</p>.<p>A mainstay of Kenyan politics, the former prime minister -- fondly referred to as "Baba" ("daddy" in Kiswahili) -- remains hugely popular despite losing four shots at the presidency in 1997, 2007, 2013 and 2017.</p>.<p>But his fiery anti-establishment image took a knock in March 2018 when he stunned the country by clasping hands with Kenyatta just months after deadly post-election clashes.</p>.<p>The truce, known universally as "the handshake", sparked speculation the two men had made a pact that would see Odinga succeed Kenyatta, a two-term president who cannot run a third time.</p>.<p>The two leaders also sought to expand the executive through proposed constitutional changes that would have potentially allowed Kenyatta to stay in power as a prime minister.</p>.<p>But despite Kenya's top court ruling against the proposed amendments in August, the unexpected alliance has persevered with Odinga attending official government functions with Kenyatta.</p>.<p>Observers say Odinga now faces a threat to the brand he has spent decades cultivating, battling for democracy and spending eight years behind bars under the autocratic regime of Daniel arap Moi.</p>.<p>"He has some convincing to do, to a group that has always seen him as the opponent, and to those that support him, that he still has their interests first," political analyst Nerima Wako-Ojiwa told AFP.</p>.<p>"It will be a tough balance, and one of the two is bound to receive the short end of the stick."</p>.<p>He will face a tough fight against his new and much younger rival, Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto, who was previously promised Kenyatta's backing for the top job in exchange for his support.</p>.<p>Ruto, 54, has positioned himself as a leader looking to upend the status quo and stand up for the "hustlers" trying to make ends meet in a country ruled by "dynasties".</p>.<p>The Kenyatta and Odinga families have dominated Kenyan politics since independence in 1963.</p>.<p>In an interview with AFP in September, Odinga said he was confident of his ability to win over voters.</p>.<p>"I have a track record which Kenyans understand very well," he said.</p>.<p>"They know that given an opportunity as the head of government, I can introduce a lot of changes."</p>
<p>Veteran Kenyan politician Raila Odinga announced Friday he would make his fifth bid for the presidency in next year's election, ending months of suspense following a surprise truce with his former foe, President Uhuru Kenyatta.</p>.<p>The announcement at a Nairobi stadium packed with political bigwigs and thousands of supporters followed speculation that the 76-year-old -- who was the face of Kenya's opposition for decades -- had struck a power-sharing deal with Kenyatta to secure his backing for the top job.</p>.<p>"I do hereby accept to present myself as a presidential candidate for the presidential elections of the 9th of August 2022," he declared to loud cheers, adding that he was committed to building a "democratic and progressive Kenya in our lifetime".</p>.<p>A mainstay of Kenyan politics, the former prime minister -- fondly referred to as "Baba" ("daddy" in Kiswahili) -- remains hugely popular despite losing four shots at the presidency in 1997, 2007, 2013 and 2017.</p>.<p>But his fiery anti-establishment image took a knock in March 2018 when he stunned the country by clasping hands with Kenyatta just months after deadly post-election clashes.</p>.<p>The truce, known universally as "the handshake", sparked speculation the two men had made a pact that would see Odinga succeed Kenyatta, a two-term president who cannot run a third time.</p>.<p>The two leaders also sought to expand the executive through proposed constitutional changes that would have potentially allowed Kenyatta to stay in power as a prime minister.</p>.<p>But despite Kenya's top court ruling against the proposed amendments in August, the unexpected alliance has persevered with Odinga attending official government functions with Kenyatta.</p>.<p>Observers say Odinga now faces a threat to the brand he has spent decades cultivating, battling for democracy and spending eight years behind bars under the autocratic regime of Daniel arap Moi.</p>.<p>"He has some convincing to do, to a group that has always seen him as the opponent, and to those that support him, that he still has their interests first," political analyst Nerima Wako-Ojiwa told AFP.</p>.<p>"It will be a tough balance, and one of the two is bound to receive the short end of the stick."</p>.<p>He will face a tough fight against his new and much younger rival, Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto, who was previously promised Kenyatta's backing for the top job in exchange for his support.</p>.<p>Ruto, 54, has positioned himself as a leader looking to upend the status quo and stand up for the "hustlers" trying to make ends meet in a country ruled by "dynasties".</p>.<p>The Kenyatta and Odinga families have dominated Kenyan politics since independence in 1963.</p>.<p>In an interview with AFP in September, Odinga said he was confident of his ability to win over voters.</p>.<p>"I have a track record which Kenyans understand very well," he said.</p>.<p>"They know that given an opportunity as the head of government, I can introduce a lot of changes."</p>