Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has defended his decision to politically cooperate with President William Ruto, stressing that post-election reconciliation is essential for Kenya’s peace and stability.
Speaking during the burial of slain Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were, Odinga reaffirmed his commitment to national unity, stating that elections should not be viewed as battles that breed lasting animosity.
“We can compete very fiercely, but at the end of it all, people must shake hands and life must continue. That is how democracies are built,” said Raila.
The ODM leader insisted that accepting and institutionalising peaceful political competition is vital for democratic maturity.
“We must institutionalize democratic practice in our country, where people tolerate each other, compete peacefully, and at the end of it all, shake hands so the country can move on,” he added.
Odinga also warned of the risks of prolonged political instability, citing Somalia’s decades-long turmoil following the 1991 ouster of its legitimate government.
“To this day, there has never been peace in Somalia. Al-Shabaab and other gangs roam freely, and people are dying day and night,” he stated.
“Yes, our elections have not been perfect, but Kenya is much more important than individuals. If we break Kenya, there will be no other Kenya tomorrow,” explained the former Prime Minister.
Addressing internal dissent within his ODM party, Odinga appeared to call for restraint among party members critical of the ongoing cooperation with the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance.
“When Edwin Sifuna speaks, he speaks on behalf of the ODM party. But Mr. Sifuna saa ingine hapana kuwa chungu sana. We have an arrangement with Kenya Kwanza and we put it in black and white. There is a 10-point agenda in the MoU we signed, and we want that to be fully implemented,” he noted.
His position received strong backing from the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, who praised the unity between the country’s top leaders.
“Our leaders, President William Ruto and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, did not come together for a joke. Hata ukienda msituni utaona mafahali ya buffaloes wakitembea pamoja. Sometimes they do not like each other, but it is important we be together,” said Wetangula.
He further expressed confidence in Raila’s political judgement, urging younger lawmakers to remain calm and respectful.
“Mheshimiwa Raila Odinga, you have our full support. And we will engage in a constructive and positive manner because we have no spare country. And when this country goes astray like in 2007, we saw the consequences,” he stated.
“Our young politicians, tuliza boli. Ukiona wazee wanafanya maneno, sometimes they see things better with a rich experience,” added the Speaker.
Odinga’s remarks come at a time when the political landscape is adjusting to the unexpected cooperation between key figures traditionally seen as rivals, signalling a potential new chapter in Kenya’s political evolution.