There’s no turning back on deal with Ruto, Raila allies affirm

Key allies of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have affirmed that there is no turning back on the political deal signed with President William Ruto.

The group, led by Minority Leader of the National Assembly Junet Mohamed, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, noted that Ruto and Raila officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last year establishing a framework for broad-based government cooperation between their parties, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and this decision still stands.

“This broad-based government, sisi kama watu wa ODM tuli-sign MOU na Rais William Ruto na ten-point agenda. And we will stick by that,” said Junet Mohamed.

He criticized a section of ODM leaders who continue to oppose President William Ruto’s administration, stating that their views do not represent the interests of the party or its leader.

“Those people in ODM who sometimes go overboard, na saa zingine wanataka kutusi rais, I will remind them that in our agreement, there was nothing like abusing the government or the President. Hiyo haikuwa. Hiyo ni yao,” he said during President William Ruto’s tour of Migori County.

His sentiments were supported by former ODM chairman and current Cabinet Secretary for Treasury John Mbadi. He emphasized that unity pact entered into by the two leaders transcends individual leaders and is focused on national stability, equity, and prosperity for all Kenyans.

“If you want to read the body language of Raila Odinga, read Dr. Oburu Odinga. Also check what Junet Mohamed and John Mbadi are saying. Stop listening to other people. We are moving forward. Forward ever, backward never,” he stated.

Mbadi reiterated that ODM’s decision clearly indicates that the entire Nyanza region will support Ruto and will no longer participate in activities aimed at undermining the government.

“We must help our people to move forward. We will do so under the leadership of only one person – Raila Amolo Odinga – who has chosen to work with President William Samoei Ruto,” he said.

“You tell me that we should remain in the streets. Yes, Luos are known for fighting for human rights and we will continue to fight for human rights. But human rights is a wide terminology, it includes political and economic rights. We must also have economic rights,” he added.

His energy counterpart Opiyo Wandayi stated that cooperation with President Ruto is a strategic partnership designed to foster national unity and address Kenya’s pressing issues, with no indication of reversing the agreement.

“For the naysayers especially in our midst, who still think that we can go backwards, they are daydreaming. We have moved on. We know those who are our genuine friends and we also know those who are not. We have resolved that this region is going to be part and parcel of president William Ruto’s administration,” he stated.

Wandayi further stressed that the current agreement between President Ruto and ODM’s Raila Odinga is the best opportunity for the Nyanza region.

“If there is anything that has happened to this region (Nyanza) that is worth talking about and is memorable since independence, it is this arrangement of broad-based government by Ruto and Raila. I say so with a lot of confidence and without fear of contradiction,” stated the Energy CS.

“We have been in political arrangements and partnerships before, but if there a partnership that is well-meaning and well-guided, it is this broad-based partnership and we have no apologies to make. We have no regrets whatsoever for agreeing as a people and as a party to come and partner with you (President Ruto) and we are not looking back,” he explained.

Their sentiments echoed those of Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, Dr. Raymond Omollo.

“President William Ruto made a very conscious decision to work with Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga. It is not the place of any other leader from this region (Nyanza) to second-guess that decision or to use our youth to perpetuate division and discord,” said Omollo.

At the same time, Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko asserted that county governors should be the last to criticize the National Assembly.

“When you see a governor criticizing the national government, that is idiocy. The Constitution is very clear and explicit that the relationship between the national and county governments must be that of mutual respect, cooperation and must work together for the benefit of the people,” he explained.

“As governor, I may have my individual feelings or sentiments but because I am head of government, I feel pained if I was to provoke the national government to criticize my own government. Imagine if the President came here to criticize me because of my incessant critique of his administration,” Ayacko added.