Anxiety as nation awaits Raila's big reveal on how he'll engage with Ruto

ODM leader Raila Odinga arrives at Kisii Agricultural Center for a town hall meeting with party delegates, on March 6, 2025. [Sammy Omingo, Standard] The country is awaiting a declaration from former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on how he and and President William Ruto are going to engage going forward with bated breath. Close allies of the former premier say he had promised his supporters that he would announce his decision on formally partnering up with President Ruto by the end of this week, meaning he only has Friday and Saturday to make things public. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader recently said that his decision would be for the good of Kenyans and has held consultations with sections of his supporters for the past few days. He has coined his message to fit this view. The former premier has called out corruption, high taxation and abductions, and raised the alarm on the challenges facing the Social Health Authority (SHA). On Sunday, Raila demanded the implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) report before committing to Ruto. Observers view Raila's engagements as a mere formality aimed at preparing the ground for the partnership. It was telling that the former premier started the engagements after meeting Ruto last Monday at the Mombasa State House, announcing to Kenyans that they should "watch this space." In all his stops, the former premier has "earned the endorsement" to push ahead with the deal with Ruto. He would unlikely secure anything other than approval from his most ardent supporters. As Raila's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) celebrated its 20th anniversary last Friday, his allies said they would follow Raila's directions, which he could announce as soon as next week. "Baba, you have said you are holding consultations. Once you complete them you will issue directions to us and because we follow Baba's spirit, when you say right, we will go right. If you say left, we will go left," said National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, a message repeated by several other speakers at the Busia event. From all indications, it is as though Raila wants to carry the masses into the deal with the Head of State. It is a brand of politics familiar with the opposition veteran who has, throughout his career, fashioned himself as a champion for the people. Before the current arrangement, there was the broad-based partnership, which Raila futilely tried to sell to his supporters as "dialogue". When faced with opposition, he often retreated, as he did last July during a rally in Kware, Embakasi, at a site where human bodies were discovered in a garbage dump. "No dialogue!" Raila roared in response to planned talks with Ruto, making a U-turn days later when he nominated five of his allies into Ruto's Cabinet, which was criticized on social media as a hijacking of the youth-led protests over proposals to hike taxes. He previously faced similar accusations when he led anti-government protests over high living costs in 2023, with some claiming Raila had used the subject to conceal his intention of airing his post-election grievances. When he shook former President Uhuru Kenyatta's hand in March 2018, the former premier popularized their Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional amendment push in public rallies. Despite his efforts, Raila has faced criticism for pursuing selfish interests in the guise of pushing for the public good. On social media, sections of Kenyans opposed Raila's recent flopped bid for the African Union Commission chairperson position, terming the former premier a traitor for siding with an unpopular regime that brutalizes the citizens and abducts government critics. Some politicians, such as Belgut Member of Parliament Nelson Koech, have suggested that Raila is accommodated through a position such as the defunct prime minister's role, arguing the nation would gain from his expertise. "Raila Odinga is coming back home. What will Raila Odinga be doing with his energy, wisdom, and experience? I think we in Kenya Kwanza should accommodate that experience, advice, and counsel. We have to find a structure that will accommodate Raila Odinga," Koech said recently. Raila's deal with Ruto will likely feature a power-sharing arrangement that could see the former premier bag more Cabinet and Principal Secretary slots for his allies, with the commitment that he will back Ruto's re-election bid in 2027. Not everyone believes granting Raila a position in the Executive would benefit the masses. Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi argues that that would offend democratic principles. "The minority should oversight and be an alternative to the government," said Mwangangi.

Anxiety as nation awaits Raila's big reveal on how he'll engage with Ruto

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