In a revealing speech delivered in Siaya County on Saturday, July 27, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga provided detailed insights into his discussions with President William Ruto regarding the nomination of ODM leaders to the Cabinet. Raila’s account sheds light on the dynamics and decisions leading up to the recent cabinet reshuffle.
Raila disclosed that he had engaged in talks with President Ruto following the dissolution of the Cabinet. He advised the President to appoint new Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) from his own party until a national dialogue could be held. This dialogue, according to Raila, was essential for ensuring that any appointments made by the opposition were aligned with a broader national consensus.
“I told Ruto the other day that since he had fired his Cabinet, he needed to put his people and that we would submit our recommendations after we have had the national dialogue,” Raila stated. “However, he told me that he wanted to be fast with the nominations as the positions could not remain vacant. So he told me that he would place his own people and then we would talk later.”
President William Ruto acknowledged greetings from Wananchi at the Changamwe Roundabout and Mombasa Town, Mombasa County on Thursday, July 25. The urgency to fill the vacant CS positions led Ruto to proceed with his nominations before any dialogue could take place. Consequently, several ODM leaders were appointed to the Cabinet, though not through the formal recommendations from the opposition party.
Raila emphasized that, despite these appointments, the opposition did not bear responsibility for the performance of the nominated ODM members. “Afterwards, he picked some of our people (from ODM). I then told him that he should not say that we are the ones who gave him the names should they fail to deliver. We have released them. We do not have a coalition agreement with the government,” he reiterated.
The ODM leaders who were picked to join the Cabinet include nominated MP John Mbadi (Treasury), former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (Mining), Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi (Energy). Raila advised these leaders to serve Kenyans diligently while adhering to the principles of the ODM party.
Despite the appointments, Raila made it clear that ODM remains in the opposition. He presented four key demands to the government as prerequisites for any national dialogue. These demands include the compensation of families of those killed during the protests in 2023 and 2024, government coverage of medical bills for those injured in the protests, the release of arrested protesters, and the withdrawal of charges against those prosecuted for participating in the demonstrations.
Raila’s speech underscores the complexity of the political landscape in Kenya, as well as the ongoing struggle for accountability and reform. The revelations highlight the delicate balance between cooperation and opposition, as well as the critical importance of dialogue in addressing national issues.
The next steps for both the government and the opposition will be closely watched, as they navigate these demands and work towards a potential national dialogue. The outcome of these discussions could have significant implications for the future of Kenyan politics and governance.
