The Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, has responded to a section of Kenyans who have been calling him out for signing a pact agreement with President William Ruto.
While addressing mourners in Kiambu on Tuesday, March 11, Raila revealed that he did not seek out President Ruto; instead, it was the Head of State who sought him.
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“Many people have been making noise, saying that Raila has left us and gone to Ruto, that he has abandoned us,” he said.
“I have not gone to Ruto; William came to me. My stance has not changed. Since I was born, I have been fighting for the rights of all Kenyans.”
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Raila stated that he is giving President Ruto an opportunity to fulfill the promises he made to Kenyans since he took oath in 2022.
“Elections will come in 2027, and the people will make their decision. But until then, we do not want our people to continue suffering,” Raila stated.
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“I have told Ruto that our health care has a problem, Social Health Authority (SHA) is not working; it must be corrected.”
According to Raila, the taxes being imposed on Kenyans are also high, especially one on housing levy.
Odinga mentioned that he will not rest until all the issues affecting Kenyans are addressed by the current regime.
According to the former AUC candidate, the signing of an agreement with Ruto was one of the many ways to resolve these problems.
“The other year, we were in the streets fighting for Kenyans, saying that the cost of living had risen, demanding that the IEBC server be opened, and highlighting issues of corruption and tribalism. Didn’t we say all these things, even forming the NADCO report committee to address them?” Raila posed.
He mentioned that last year, the Gen Z went on the streets, fighting with the government, which sent police officers who he alleged beat up and killed many protestors.
The former Prime Minister went on to state that the government was shaken, and they even sent the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to contain the protests.
He noted that Ruto was forced to dissolve his cabinet and stated that he would consult in forming a new one. However, Raila emphasized that there are still unresolved issues.
“That’s why these people, feeling the chill, have come to our side. I said we should make those changes. The ten conditions we outlined in the agreement are what we have been demanding, and they said they are addressing them.”
“These things cannot be corrected when you are out, you must go inside and tell them what to do, and you place people there to address the problems,” he added.
He added, “We cannot sit aside and watch our country sinking. We must do something to see if we can correct them and Kenyans can decide who will lead the after 2027.”
Annah Nanjala Wekesa is a journalist at The Kenya Times, with a passion for crafting news-worthy stories that leave a lasting impact. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media from Kisii University. She has honed her skills in the art of storytelling and journalism. Her passion lies in the art of storytelling that resonates with audiences, driving a commitment to delivering news-worthy stories through the lens of integrity and precision. She can be reached at annah.wekesa@thekenyatimes.com
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