Raila had taken note of Ruto’s announcement on Wednesday, July 24 to include four ODM members to his list of nominees to be vetted by the National Assembly.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leader Raila Odinga on Thursday, July 25 said the move by President William Ruto to nominate four of his allies into Cabinet positions does not mean he is entering a coalition with the government.
Raila, in a statement, said he had taken note of Ruto’s announcement on Wednesday, July 24 to include four ODM members to his list of nominees to be vetted by the National Assembly.
The move caused a stir among Kenyans on social media who even created memes and cartoons of a union between Raila’s ODM and Ruto’s UDA party. However, Raila denied any rumoured union with the government.
“As articulated in our statement on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, neither the ODM Party nor Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party has entered into any coalition agreement with President Ruto’s UDA party,” he said.
President William Ruto flanked by Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka speaking after the assenting of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024 at KICC, Nairobi on July 9, 2024. /PCS
The Azimio la Umoja leader added they had anticipated the crafting of clear terms of engagement based on issues they raised in their various statements.
Raila extended his best wishes to the four nominees adding that he trusts they will contribute positively to national development, and added that ODM would continue to advocate for a national engagement under the conditions they had previously outlined.
Among the issues Raila wanted addressed is the compensation to the families of the victims of extrajudicial executions and persons injured by the state since last year.
“Release of all persons in custody and termination of all cases related to protests since last year and prosecution of policemen involved in shooting to kill or maim protestors,” Raila added.
He insisted that ODM remains steadfast in upholding its foundational principles of democracy, good governance, and social justice.
He went on to state that the principles shall at all times guide their actions and decisions as they strive for the betterment of the nation.
24 hours ago, Ruto nominated the second batch of Cabinet Secretaries, bringing the total number of nominees to 20, pending the nomination of the Attorney General and the EAC Cabinet Secretary.
The Head of State while addressing the press at State House in Nairobi, nominated ODM’s John Mbadi (Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) Ali Hassan Joho to Mining and Wycliffe Oparanya to the Ministry of Co-operatives.
However, the move led to criticism, especially from some ODM supporters who felt that its party leader, Raila Odinga, had deserted them when they needed him the most. Earlier assertions by the party had revealed that its members would not accept any ministerial appointments from President Ruto.
