NAIROBI, Kenya – In a poignant moment of political compromise, Azimio leader Raila Odinga has announced that his ODM party has set free four of its distinguished members, nominated by President William Ruto to join his cabinet.
Despite this significant gesture, Raila was clear that ODM remains steadfast in its opposition role within Azimio, and no formal agreement has been struck with the government.
“We didn’t enter any agreement or sign a pact with the government,” Raila emphasized. “Our stand remains the same, and there is no contradiction to what I have always said.”
Raila explained that when Ruto requested members from his party, he initially highlighted several issues that needed addressing before they could proceed.
However, Ruto expressed urgency, insisting on reconstituting the cabinet to ensure the country continued running smoothly, with other outstanding issues to be addressed later.
“We said, if you want to take some of our experts into your government, we release them to work in accordance with the ethics of our party, ODM and Azimio,” Raila stated.
On Wednesday, Ruto nominated ODM leaders Hassan Joho, Wycliffe Oparanya, Opiyo Wandayi, and John Mbadi to his new cabinet.
Mbadi was assigned the Treasury docket, Energy and Petroleum went to Wandayi, Oparanya took on Cooperatives and MSME Development, while Joho was handed the Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy.
Raila maintained that the nomination of these ODM luminaries should not be perceived as his endorsement of the government.
“I have not changed my stand. The media has been misrepresenting facts about what I have been saying,” he said during the burial of Lawyer Evans Orwenjo in Alego Usonga.
Raila reiterated the need for a national convention, emphasizing, “Kenya is at a critical juncture. It is either we move forward or we perish. We need just a conversation, and that’s why I proposed matters to be dealt with first before that convention can be heard.”
According to Raila, crucial matters that must take precedence include compensation for families of violence victims, payment of medical bills for those still hospitalized due to police brutality, the release of those arrested with charges dropped, and the sacking and prosecution of police officers involved in criminal violence against citizens exercising their rights.
Raila underscored the importance of addressing these issues before any meaningful dialogue can take place.
He assured the locals at the funeral that ODM has defined the dialogue’s focus.
He noted that the issues raised by the Gen Z resonate with those ODM has been championing, including tribalism, high living costs, corruption, and debt management.
“We stand with the young people in their fight for a better future,” Raila affirmed. He also called for a return to the Bomas draft constitution to revisit and clean up the progressive constitution Kenyans deliberated and agreed upon.
“So, we said on the basis of that elaborate process, we can then talk about the government of national unity,” Raila concluded, urging for a united front in addressing the nation’s pressing issues.
