KIAMBU, Kenya—Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has defended his decision to cooperate with President William Ruto, insisting that the Head of State sought him out to help address the country’s challenges.
Speaking during a funeral service in Kiambu County on Tuesday, Raila pushed back against critics who have accused him of political betrayal following his recent deal with Ruto.
The ODM leader said his cooperation with the government is solely aimed at tackling pressing national issues, including the controversial Social Health Authority (SHA) and over-taxation, particularly through the Housing Levy.
“Some people are making noise, claiming that I have abandoned them and joined Ruto. But I did not go to Ruto—Ruto came to me,” Raila said in his first public response to the backlash.
He dismissed claims that his move was politically motivated ahead of the 2027 elections, maintaining that his priority is to ease Kenyans’ struggles rather than engage in early political maneuvering.
“Since I was born, I have fought for Kenyans’ rights, and my stand has not changed,” he declared.
Raila emphasized that meaningful change requires dialogue, noting that the issues his camp had raised in previous protests could not be resolved through opposition alone.
“Last year, we raised issues that needed to be addressed, but they can’t be solved unless leaders come together and talk,” he said.
He revealed that Ruto had agreed to work on the 10 issues they discussed, adding, “We have given them time to implement these resolutions.”
According to Raila, Ruto has assured him that the government is committed to tackling these concerns, and he urged patience as the agreed solutions are rolled out.
Raila’s cooperation with Ruto has drawn sharp criticism from a section of his supporters who feel let down after years of fierce opposition against the president.
Some view the deal as a softening of Raila’s stance against an administration they believe has failed to address economic hardships.
However, Raila insisted that his engagement is about solutions, not politics.
“You can’t solve problems by sitting back. You need to place the right people in key positions to ensure solutions are found,” he explained.
He maintained that while Kenyans will have the final say on leadership in 2027, immediate issues like SHA and heavy taxation must be addressed now.
“We can’t stand aside while the country struggles—we must work together to fix these issues,” he said.
