Raila-Ruto alliance; Once enemies now brothers

President William Ruto and ODM Leader Raila Odinga during the signing of Peace and Partnership Agreement at KICC, Nairobi on March 7, 2025 [Boniface Okendo, Standard] President William Ruto and his broad based partner Raila Odinga are working together again and using respectful endearments and describing each other as brother. This has not always been the case for two years ago, they were tearing at each other'sd throats sometimes hurling choice epithets in public forums. When they were political competitors, Ruto described Raila as a 'mganga' opposed to his generous contributions to church, a leader who does not go to church, a lord of poverty in Kenya. Raila on his part, regarded Ruto as corrupt, a man who has no regard for ethics, public morals or shame. Raila could not even share a podium with Ruto during a Presidential debate in July 2022 because then he believed Ruto lacked basic decency and as such 'it would be a colossal mistake to reward such a person with a national debate. The once allies who were leaders of the ODM party, parted ways after Raila orchestrated the removal of Ruto from the Cabinet after the maize scandal never saw eye to eye. Their relationship soured in 2018 after former President Uhuru Kenyatta incorporated Raila in his government through a handshake and even started the process of changing the constitution through Building Bridges Initiative to accommodate Raila. Ruto saw the handshake as a strategy to sideline him and mounted a spirited campaign against Raila and Uhuru. To Ruto, the coming together of the two leaders signified the alliance of the dynasties while he was a son of a peasant whose only mistake was to be born from a poor family. He styled himself as hustlers , Mama Mboga and a generous church giver whose godfather was God-the father. He became a frequent church goer and giver and could splash millions in churches. Raila believed that Ruto's contributions was looted from public coffers and vowed to jail all the corrupt leaders if elected President in 2022. At the height of the 2022 campaigns, Raila suggested that Ruto's donations were proceeds of the Aror and Kimwarer dams scandal claiming its cost was grossly inflated. "There are those who are everywhere every Sunday. You can't just carry money every Sunday to donate to churches. You must start by confessing and telling the church the truth about the source of money," said Raila in a broadside aimed at Ruto. Ruto did not spare Raila, he accused him of engaging in black magic as the reasons for not giving to the church saying he was only an ardent follower of the bible. "We do not give because we have, but we have because we give. If you read the Bible it tells us that if you give you shall receive and that you shall receive according to the measure that you give," Ruto said at PCEA St Lukes in Mihang'o in June 2022 in Nairobi where referred to Raila as the Lord of Poverty, accusing him of riding on the plight of the poor for political support. Raila had said "Our competitors have been looting billions from the public coffers. I will seal the loopholes. They are dishing the money to the churches. They will be behind Kamiti maximum prison or Naivasha prison once Azimio forms the government." President William Ruto of UDA and Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga of ODM sign a agreement to work together at KICC. [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard] In 2020 Ruto hit out at Raila, saying he wanted Kenyans to remain poor so they could depend on him. You are opposed to any development in this country because you want people to be poor so they continue to support you and I'm telling you we will work night and day to eliminate poverty in this country so that your kingdom has no place in Kenya and the lord of poverty will have no space in this nation." However, when the two leaders came together after the formation of the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) their words against each other changed. Raila recognized Ruto as the President while Ruto saw Raila as a Pan African, a statesman and a man's whose longevity in leadership had been sustained by an "unrelenting devotion to democratic change" as the foundation of sustainable freedom and prosperity. In January 2, while drumming up support for Raila's candidature, Ruto said Raila had what it takes to champion the unity and progress of the African continent and that his candidature for the African Union Commission chairperson continued to receive tremendous support owing to his proven track record as a pan-Africanist. "He has a sterling reputation as a zealous Pan-African who has consistently demonstrated a strong faith in Africa's possibilities," Ruto said. He noted that it is through this that Kenya has benefited from progress both on the national governance as well as evolution of sectors attributable to reforms championed by Raila and other visionary leaders. "Raila does not only possess the requisite credentials, but he is also the ideal candidate to lead the African Union Commission," he stated as he praised him for possessing the professional capacity and experience to lead the commission. He said he has a proven track record of transformative leadership and wide experience of accomplishment at the national and regional level. "We believe that offering a highly qualified, experienced and competent candidate to lead the AUC is perfectly consistent with our commitment to the transformation of our continent through our institutions of Pan- African unity," he said. Yesterday Ruto told Raila that he would do everything within his power to ensure that he is respected both locally and internationally saying that all peers, juniors and seniors should acknowledge Raila's contributions that span across generations. "Several months after the elections, I told him he has been my party leader, I'd want him to be treated well. I will do whatever it takes to make sure you have respect in Kenya. I am not doing this for any selfish reasons, it is because you're my senior and your contributions deserve respect," he said.

Raila-Ruto alliance; Once enemies now brothers

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