Raila: I do not regret my pact with Ruto

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday openly defended his decision to back President William Ruto’s administration through the broad-based arrangement, saying it was the best course of action to safeguard Kenya’s stability.

Speaking during the burial ceremony of Phoebe Asiyo in Karachuonyo, Homa Bay County, Raila dismissed critics who have accused him of betraying his opposition cause, insisting that the political alliance was necessary for the sake of peace in the country.

“We were forced into this because of the situation at the time. I do not regret what we did. We did it in the best interests of our country, and Kenya must move on,” Raila said.

The ODM leader warned that the country had been on the brink of unprecedented chaos, similar to other nations that have experienced political collapse.

“There was a very big probability of Kenya deteriorating into a failed state,” he said.

“People who do not understand history talk very easily. Tell them what happened in Libya and Egypt. Why do we have a military regime in Egypt today?”

Raila expressed disappointment that some of his accusers had belittled what he described as a serious national crisis, one that required pragmatic decisions rather than political grandstanding.

“They tried to trivialise a very serious situation. People do not understand, and that’s why they write things in newspaper articles. I just read and laugh,” he said.

He compared Kenya’s situation to that of North African nations where political uprisings led to prolonged instability, warning that such a fate could have befallen Kenya if decisive action had not been taken.

“Look at Libya. Look at Egypt. Even Tunisia. Those countries went through upheavals that many thought would bring freedom, but the outcome has been years of instability or authoritarian rule,” he said.

The veteran politician also underscored the need for the coalition government to prioritise human rights and the welfare of ordinary Kenyans.

“Issues of human rights must be respected, and we must ensure that people live well and that they have food,” he said.

The broad-based government deal between President Ruto and Raila Odinga’s camp was formed amid heightened political tensions and public protests over the high cost of living.

While supporters hail it as a move that averted bloodshed and economic collapse, critics argue it has diluted opposition oversight and weakened democratic accountability.

Other Topics To Read

• Headlines
• President William Ruto
• Raila Odinga
• broad-based government
• Phoebe Asiyo
• Raila: I do not regret my pact with Ruto
• Politics