Raila men at a crossroads on their loyalty to Kenya Kwanza

Raila Odinga’s ODM top members are split on how to relate with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Yesterday, some party leaders warned they would not sing praises to President William Ruto, asserting that it is the right of the Nyanza people to get development.

Siaya Governor James Orengo and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna’s salvoes at Ruto and the contrasting shower of praises by another team of ODM stalwarts led by chairperson Gladys Wanga point at a divided house or a strategic political move by the Orange army.

The leaders convened in Rarieda, Siaya, during the ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001516308/emotional-tributes-as-railas-bodyguard-george-oduor-is-buried">burial of Raila’s bodyguard<, George Oduor.  

Sifuna claimed that the Kenya Kwanza administration had backtracked on some of the components of their agreement that formed the basis of their inclusion in government.

He said the party has been slapped with a reduction of funding by Sh40 million by the Registrar of Political Parties, Anne Nderitu, a move he says violates their agreement.

“The MoU is saying we respect the political parties, but the Registrar of Political Parties has reduced our budget by Sh40 million as per the letter I got last week,” said Sifuna.

He claimed he was also shocked by the attempt to reduce funding for counties, arguing that the agreement between UDA and ODM had capped the figure at Sh450 billion.

He also claimed Ruto’s government was shooting itself in the foot in some scenarios and cited the recent administrative embarrassment that was the attempt to deny drama students from Butere Girls from presenting their play, ‘‘Echoes of War’’ in Nakuru.

“Some of your people are hard to defend. They are scoring own goals,” he said.

Similarly, Governor Orengo also questioned those praising the government.

A defiant Orengo warned that the country could be headed to the dogs if leaders continue clapping for the government without batting an eye at some of its activities.

He rallied Kenyans to ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/amp/national/article/2001516074/gideon-moi-condemns-harassment-of-malala-over-echoes-of-war-play">question their leaders<, urging them to stand up for their rights.

“With song praising, we will not have a country. Tell your leaders the truth,” he said.

“I don’t do song praise. This country will go to the dogs if the type of song praising that we are hearing here continues. Just fight for your rights, and we will have a better country.”

But, clad in matching designer khaki suits, Raila and Ruto rallied Kenyans to embrace national unity as the President painted a rosy picture of an economy on an upward trajectory following the formation of the broad-based government.

“In this journey of nation-building, everyone has a contribution to make. Broad-based is not about the interest of any one of us. It is about the interest of 50 million Kenyans,” said Ruto.

The President claimed that he is unbothered by a section of Kenyans chanting “Ruto must go”, maintaining that he is focused in getting it right with the education sector. 

 He said with Raila’s help, his administration has unlocked the country’s growth potential and promised to ensure that no region is left behind in development.

According to Ruto, Raila came to his rescue at a time when he needed someone to stand with him. He recounted how he also stood with Raila in the past in his political journey.

Last year, the ODM leader agreed to work with Kenya Kwanza following unrest by Gen Zs that almost brought Ruto’s administration to its knees.

Yesterday, Ruto claimed that the country is now on the right path. He promised to deliver several projects, adding that they have already released Sh60 billion for roads in the last two weeks.

“Because of our coming together and forging relationship, we can say our economy is stable,” he said.

Ruto noted that inflation has reduced to three per cent up from six per cent as a result of the formation of the broad-based government.

“We can have the best Constitution, the best election, but if we don’t have the right psyche and mood, ethnicity can undermine development,” he noted.

For a man who sat to listen to criticisms from some of Raila’s allies who are poking holes on what they describe as ‘praise and worship’ from some ODM stalwarts, Ruto trained his political guns at Sifuna.

He criticised him for his comments against his administration and claimed he was among the founding members of ODM and can rein in on Sifuna.

“Sisi ndio tulianza hii kitu (We are the ones who started this). If you push me to the extremes, I will call for a meeting of founder members, and you will go,” he said.

Earlier on, Raila’s allies, led by Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, had showered Ruto’s regime with praises as they committed to continue supporting it.

Raila reaffirmed his commitment towards national unity and rallied lawmakers to help strengthen devolution. He said devolution is not working as earlier anticipated and heaped the blame on MPs for frustrating governors by limiting resources to counties.

“Devolution is still not working properly. Go to Germany and see how the system works,” he said.

According to Raila, some components that were devolved should be delegated to counties and performed by governors.

He claimed construction and maintenance of roads should be under the governors and should not be implemented by MPs.

Raila, who has threatened to decampaign MPs for frustrating devolution,n said there is a need to collapse road agencies such as Kenya Rural Roads Authority and place them under counties.

“MPs have no business concerning roads. The role of MPs is clearly stated. How do you oversight when you are actually,” he posed.

He eulogized his late aide as a dedicated servant and a family member who was ready to take the bullet for him. He said his demise was a great loss for his family.

Report by Harold Odhiambo, Olivia Odhiambo and Isaiah Gwengi