Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai has stirred the political pot with his recent statement suggesting that President William Ruto could extend a hand of gratitude to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) by nominating members of the opposition party to key Cabinet positions.
In a statement shared on his X account on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Alai revealed that Ruto would be giving a token to his roots within the opposition party.
Furthermore, Alai asserted that Ruto’s early involvement as a founding member of ODM warrants recognition and gratitude towards the part which propelled him into a more serious political realm.
Alai made a bold stance that no ODM executive should impede Ruto’s nominations from the party underscoring a call for unity and collaboration across party lines.
“Ruto is a founder member of ODM. If he decides to nominate any ODM to the cabinet, any idler in the party who claims to be an executive of the party shouldn’t block the nomination,” Alai remarked.
Further, the blogger-cum politician went on to suggest MP Mbadi for consideration as Cabinet Secretary for Treasury.
“Ruto will be saying thank you also to ODM for being the party that thrust him into the seriousness of political leadership. MP Mbadi can be the CS Treasury!” Alai added.
Ruto is a founder member of ODM.
If he decides to nominate any ODM to the cabinet, any idler in the party who claims to be an executive of the party shouldn’t block the nomination.
Ruto will be saying thank you also to ODM for being the party that thrust him into the…
— Robert ALAI, HSC (@RobertAlai) July 24, 2024
ODM split on cabinet nominations
The remarks by Alai follow various claims that have been going around, revealing that the ODM party was split on whether the appointment of Cabinet secretaries from the party should be done.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna revealed that the party was not negotiating with the Kenya Kwanza government for any coalition or political arrangement.
Sifuna revealed that the party was focusing on a national conversation for better Kenya and not negotiating with the Kenya Kwanza government for any coalition or political arrangement.
In his statement, the SG stated that members of the ODM who wish to join the cabinet of President Ruto would not receive the party’s approval or support.
“As a Party, we wish to make it unequivocally clear that we are not in negotiations with the Ruto regime for any coalition or political arrangement. Any ODM member who makes themselves available to join the Kenya Kwanza cabinet or any other position should know that they do so without the blessing or support of the party,” Sifuna noted.
On the another hand, Homabay Town MP Peter Kaluma distanced himself from the statement issued by the party. Kaluma said the ODM party and Azimio coalition constituent parties had resolved the appointments a week earlier.
“Honorable Speaker last week as members of the ODM party and independent parties of Azimio also, we sat and said the government of Kenya belongs to all of us. And we resolved, am saying this because we don’t want some confusion am seeing saying if members of the ODM party are appointed to the government they are going on their own, we met and resolved so,” Kaluma noted.