Ruto: I reached out to Raila after 2022 elections to right historical injustices

President William Ruto has revealed that months after the 2022 elections, he agreed to work closely with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to advance national unity and correct historical injustices done to him.

Speaking on Sunday at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Bondo, he said the coalition was founded on mutual respect and a shared vision to move Kenya beyond political rivalry and division.

He said he personally reached out to Raila and assured him that he wanted to correct the injustices he had endured in his long political career.

“I told him, first, whether you would contest the presidency in 2027 or support someone else, it did not matter to me. What I wanted, as your student who learned politics under you, was to take care of you because you made a huge sacrifice for our nation,” he said.

“I told Baba that, as a person who learned in his political school, I know the sacrifices you have made; personal, family and community sacrifices. I wanted to right the wrongs that were done to you in our nation. We agreed, unconditionally, that I would do whatever he wanted me to do, especially to ensure the sacrifices and contributions he made to Kenya were fully honoured.”

The President expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with Raila, saying divine intervention made it possible for their paths to align again.

He went on to reveal that after their agreement, he sought out former President Uhuru Kenyatta to brief him on their discussions with Raila.

“I want to say here, Baba, that we agreed; you and I, that I would look for President Uhuru and I booked an appointment. I sat down with President Uhuru, and we discussed what I had discussed with you about the future of our country. How to think big, how to move away from the average, the usual and the ordinary, so that we can stretch this nation to the extraordinary and to excellence,” Ruto said.

He noted that President Uhuru played a key role in helping unite the country, end political divisions and tribalism, and support the shared goal of transforming Kenya into a developed nation.

“President Uhuru, you remember I came to your office, explained to you what I had discussed with my brother, the Prime Minister, and I thank you immensely for joining us in putting this country together, eliminating division and tribalism, and forging unity that would lift Kenya from third-world to first-world status,” he said.

Ruto also revealed that he had no fear of losing the 2022 presidential election to Raila, noting that his calmness surprised many of his supporters.

“Many of those who supported me were wondering why I had no problem with the outcome of the 2022 election. The reason was that the contest was between Raila and his student. It did not matter who won; either Raila was going to win, or his political student, William Ruto,” he said.

He added that even in defeat, he would have considered it a personal victory because he shared Raila’s vision and ideology.

“When they asked me, ‘How can you compete with Uhuru and Raila?’ I told them I had no problem if Raila had won, because I would still be victorious. It was just a student and his teacher. We had similar visions for this country on healthcare, housing, agriculture and education,” he said.

The duos political relationship dates back to the late 1990s when Ruto, then a first-term MP for Eldoret North, worked closely with Raila in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the broader reform movement that eventually gave birth to Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.

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• Ruto: I reached out to Raila after 2022 elections to right historical injustices
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Despite their later political differences, Ruto said mutual respect endured, culminating in the 2024 rapprochement that united the two in a broad-based government, facilitated by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Ruto noted that in the three months before Raila’s death, the two held frequent discussions on how to transform Kenya into a first-world country, including plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway through Siaya to the Uganda border.

“Raila believed in me when I expressed interest in becoming President way back in 2005,” Ruto recalled, describing him as a mentor and teacher who shaped his political philosophy.

The President also hinted at a possible alliance with ODM in the 2027 elections, saying he would continue Raila’s legacy of building strong political institutions.

“I want to tell you, my brothers in ODM, that in line with Baba’s desire to build the largest political party, we will support ODM in 2027. That is the only way we can ensure we have an effective government. ODM will either form the next government or be part of it,” he said.

He warned that those trying to destabilise the party would not succeed under his watch.

He further announced that all staff who had served Raila diligently would be taken care of by the government, singling out Maurice Ogeta, Raila’s long-time aide.

“Maurice, I want to tell you that as this government preserves Raila’s legacy, we will also take care of you and all those who looked after him. I remember him in our ODM days when he would even wipe our shoes when we came late for campaigns,” he said.

He also thanked Ruth Odinga, Mama Ida Odinga, Oburu Oginga and Winnie Odinga for their unwavering support to Raila.

“I want to especially thank Winnie Odinga, who stood firmly by her father through it all,” the President said.

Thousands of mourners, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, and Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo attended the ceremony, marking a solemn farewell to one of Kenya’s most iconic leaders.