President William Ruto has continued to popularise his broad-based government while praising Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for agreeing to support his administration amidst protests and opposition from a section of Kenyans.
Speaking in Kondele, Kisumu County on Saturday, August 31, 2024, Ruto expressed his admiration for Raila’s patriotism where he shelved his political ambitions to support his administration despite mounting pressure from the Gen-Z-led protests.
Extending an olive branch to Kondele residents who previously staged demos over the Finance Act 2023, Ruto pointed out that there is no fault in Raila supporting his administration.
“Si mimi nilikuwa Deputy Party leader wa ODM, si mimi nilisaidiana na Baba. Sasa kama siku ile tulisaidiana na Baba akawa Prime Minister, Saizi Baba akinisaidia niendeshe hii serikali kuna makosa? (I was the ODM Deputy leader and helped Raila to become a Prime Minister. Right now if Baba helps me to run this government, is there any problem?),” Ruto stated while receiving wild cheers from the crowd in Kondele.
Elder brother
Before openly supporting Raila African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship bid, Ruto had ruled out a handshake with the former Prime Minister.
He castigated his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta for agreeing to work with Raila arguing that their arrangement ruined the Jubilee administration.
However, in a complete turn of events, Ruto has described Raila as his elder brother, a political phrase which was mostly used by Uhuru to display his bromance with the ODM Party leader.
“Mimi nataka kuambia ndugu yangu mkubwa Raila Odinga asante sana kwa kuwa Mkenya Mzalendo. Mtu ambaye anaelewa maana ya amani na umoja ya wakenya kwa kunisaidia niunganishe taifa letu la Kenya (I want to tell my elder brother Raila Odinga, thank you so much for being a patriotic Kenyan. You are a person who understands the meaning of a peaceful and united country. I appreciate you for agreeing to help me unite our country Kenya),” Ruto stated.
Alliance
Further, Ruto revealed that he had struck a deal with Raila to advance ideology based politics going forward. Ruto announced that they had all agreed to work toward the country’s unity.
“Tumekubaliana ya kwamba ile siasa ya zamani ya kutuganya, ya ukabila na utengano tuwache nyuma, tuungane tuwe kitu kimoja (We have agreed to abandon divisive politics and unite as one),” Ruto emphasised.
His sentiments come a day after Suba East MP Junet Mohamed hinted at a new pact ahead of the 2027 elections.
Kondele, Kisumu County. https://t.co/qYWXHuZGFS
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) August 31, 2024