Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga defended his Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with President William Ruto saying that it is in the interest of uniting the country.
Speaking in Migori on Sunday, March 9, Raila vouched for his agreement with the President and urged his supporters to back the move.
He maintained that he has not betrayed his supporters, and the pact is in the best interest of his supporters.
“Who have we betrayed? There is nobody we have betrayed. We already said we want to move forward, and I told them, but they refused,” Raila said.
The MoU was met with backlash in Kisii where Raila received a hostile reception at the Gusii stadium when he joined football fans for a match.
Kisii, one of Raila’s stronghold in Nyanza, stood up in displeasure chanting the ‘Ruto must go’ slogan.
Raila and Kisii Governor Simba Arati watched from the Stadium’s VIP section.
Shabana FC fans who have been strong supporters of Raila staged a dramatic walkout with his attempts to address the crowds drowning in anti-Ruto chants.
Raila Says He Has Not Changed
Raila maintained he still the same person the Gusii community supported more than twice in presidential elections.
“We want to unite the whole country. Kenya is important more than all of us. Going forward we want to see the country uniting. You voted for me more than twice and I am still the same Raila,” Raila said.
“I want to see that we are headed in the same direction, and we are united. Those who are complaining.”
Also Read: Gusii Residents Refuse to be Addressed by Raila Odinga
Ruto Defends MoU
Ruto made similar remarks that his move to have ODM work with him is for the benefit of the country and not an individual.
“It is necessary that we harness the unity of nation, talents available, energy available and the political available for us to increase the momentum of the development of our country,” Ruto said.
According to Ruto, the deal will ensure that no part of the country is left behind in the development agenda.
Also Read: List of ODM MPs to Take Over Lucrative Committees After Removal of Gachagua’s Insiders
“I want to encourage us as a nation to think about not what is it for politician and leaders but what is in it for the people of Kenya. Not to think about the interest of a political side, party or one region,” he added.
The incident at Gusii stadium happened just two days after Raila and Ruto signed inked a deal at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Friday, March 7 to formalize a new political partnership between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ODM.
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