Why did Raila Odinga leave KANU before the 2002 election?

Raila Odinga left the Kenya African National Union (KANU) in 2002 primarily because his ambition to succeed President Daniel arap Moi as the party’s presidential candidate was blocked.1

After the National Development Party was absorbed into KANU, Odinga served as the party's secretary-general with the expectation of securing the presidential nomination. However, President Moi instead designated Uhuru Kenyatta as his preferred successor. In protest, Odinga and other dissatisfied members formed the Rainbow Alliance, advocating for a democratic vote within the party to select a candidate. When these demands were ignored and KANU officially named Kenyatta as its nominee, Odinga and his allies departed to form the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The LDP subsequently joined the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) to challenge KANU in the 2002 general election.12