By Anderson Ojwang
In his characteristic manner, at the heart of his political bedrock in Karachuonyo of Homa Bay County, during the burial of a matriarch and confidant Mama Phoebe Asiyo, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga delivered a clarion call of unity and readiness to face the critics in 2027 elections.
The fiery Raila told critics that he doesn’t regret joining President William Ruto and the subsequent formation of the broad-based government as it was for the good of the country, to avoid it from sliding into a failed state.
He said the people will judge them when that time comes and expressed confidence that they will prevail and carry the Kenyans’ trust with them at that moment.
“We sacrificed so that there could be peace in this country. And that is the reason we are here today. I don’t regret what we did. We did it in the best interest of our country and Kenya must move forward.
We must continue to improve our governance structure, and the issue of human rights must be respected.
We have sat together and reviewed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) we signed this year and now we have put together a framework to ensure the MOU is implemented to the letter.
This is going to happen. Those who have been maimed, injured and died will be compensated from 2017 to date.
We have a structure to ensure that the MOU is implemented and that is why next week, we are going to have a joint parliamentary group meeting so that we can be able to implement what we have agreed on.
I want to say to the naysayers, give us space and room. Judge us in 2027. And we have said this is going to remain in place up to 2027 and after that we see where we go to.
You are saying wantam (one term). So what? It is the Kenyans who will decide the terms and we will see where we want to go. I am confident when that time comes we will face Kenyans squarely and tell Kenyans why we did what we had to do and where we want to go.
You will tell your agenda and we will tell Kenyans our agenda and we will see who the Kenyans will trust. I am not worried about those making noise. It is like a frog croaking that doesn’t scare the cows from drinking water. They will actually drink the water.
We will be able to move beyond 2027. I am confident we will move beyond 2027. Nobody should try to threaten us. We are Kenyans. Don’t go and say that Kenya is sectionalised. We are from the Coast, we are from the Lake, we are from the Mountain, we are from the Valley. This is unacceptable. We are Kenyans. Every Kenyan matters.
It is not about blood relationship, oh my cousins, what about those who are not your cousins? What are they? Are they not Kenyans?
Don’t tell us that the government has got shareholders and why are you collecting taxes from those who don’t have shares in the government?
You collect taxes from them and you say they don’t have shares because they did not vote for you. Shame on you. Kenya is a great country and can transition to first world.
Mr. President, Vision 2030 is not being followed well. As we now want to work with you, we want to ensure we bring Vision 2030 back on the table.
We also revive the National Economic and Social Council so that the flagship projects that were conceived can be revived and we ensure they are all moving together.” he said.
Speaking at the same function, Ruto said Raila has spoken as a patriot and a Kenyan committed to the progress and success of Kenya,
“I was almost tempted to say that I have nothing useful to add, he has said it all and well. Listening to you today, I am persuaded and agree to your commitment and conviction that Kenya is a great country.”
It is only that some do not understand the potential and the greatness of this nation. Because of your commitment to this country, today you have assisted me to put together the broad-based government.
“A government that brings together all communities, regions in an inclusive manner into one administration that does not look and seek to preserve any leader but to preserve the stability of Kenya. Because of the coming together, under the broad-based government, because of Raila Odinga working with me to put together this broad-based government, Kenya has a date with destiny.
I want to commit to that as the head of the executive that the 10-point agenda will be committed to the letter.” he said.
Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently introduced the politics of cousins that was aimed at uniting the communities related to Mt Kenya and has been targeting the Kambas, Kisii and the Luhya communities among others.
Raila’s declaration on the working relationship with Ruto puts to an end disquiet in his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, where a section of members had been critical of the union.
The party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna had threatened to resign from the party should they declare support for President Ruto in the 2027 presidential election.
“This thing called broad-based government, I don’t know where it exists. Personally, I don’t recognise any entity called broad-based. There is a government of Kenya Kwanza under the leadership of President Ruto, and every CS serving in that government serves the Kenya Kwanza government,” he said.
