Monday twenty fourth February, 2025 07:15 PM|
Makadara MP George Aladwa has come out in defence of ODM Party chief Raila Odinga’s camaraderie with President William Ruto amid reviews of joint management between the opposition and the federal government.
Aladwa shared a photograph of the 2 leaders shaking palms at an occasion in Mombasa, the place President Ruto formally welcomed Raila again to the nation after his unsuccessful bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship on Monday, February 24, 2025.
Expressing his assist for Raila’s evolving political stance, Aladwa acknowledged that he stands by the opposition chief’s selections. He emphasised that Raila has devoted himself to Kenya’s progress and deserved recognition for his efforts.
“This is what I mean when I say I’m in broad-based government. When Baba is happy, I’m happy. This man has suffered for Kenya, let him be,” Aladwa remarked.
Working with Raila
In his speech earlier, President Ruto affirmed his dedication to working closely with Raila to drive Kenya’s improvement agenda. He highlighted the significance of Raila’s function in nation-building and outlined their shared priorities, together with infrastructure improvement, intra-African commerce, and financial prosperity.
The Head of State acknowledged Raila’s dedication throughout his AUC chairmanship marketing campaign, commending his efforts to signify Kenya on the continental degree.
“I have supported many people in the past, but we had a fantastic candidate. He was present and did what needed to be done. Raila was available for all his appointments to different countries and canvas his candidature,” Ruto mentioned.
The President went on to precise his enthusiasm for working with Raila within the coming years, emphasizing the necessity for unity and collaboration to realize nationwide transformation.
“It is a proud moment for us to receive you back home and to engage with you as we drive the development of our country, engage in nation-building, and broaden and widen our engagement towards achieving equity, prosperity, and transformation,” he added.
Raila’s transfer
On the opposite hand, Raila reaffirmed his readiness to supply steerage and assist every time referred to as upon, emphasizing his dedication to each Kenya and the broader African continent. Speaking upon his return, Odinga acknowledged that he would quickly have interaction together with his allies and supporters to deliberate on the present political panorama.
“We are available to help the continent of Africa but more importantly, we are also available for Kenya. I’m back home, I am going to meet with my friends, my supporters,” he mentioned.
He additional indicated that he would conduct intensive consultations earlier than making a definitive announcement about his subsequent steps.
“I am going to consult widely on what’s going on and in due course we are going to announce our way forward. I just want to say watch this space I will be talking again,” Odinga added, hinting at a giant announcement.
ODM’s future unsure
Amid ongoing turmoil inside the ODM Party, strain is mounting on Raila to offer path following the collapse of his bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.
Nairobi department chairperson George Aladwa has hinted at a doable shake-up within the social gathering’s management, suggesting that Secretary General Edwin Sifuna may very well be ousted over disloyalty. Addressing the press in Nairobi on Saturday, February 22, 2025, Aladwa accused Sifuna of working towards the social gathering’s pursuits, claiming he had proven indicators of siding with rival factions, together with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
“I want to warn Sifuna, who refers to himself as the Secretary General of ODM, that we have had many SGs who were way more powerful like Ababu Namwamba and the rest. Even him, he will go the way Ababu did,” Aladwa acknowledged.
This adopted ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna ruling out supporting President Ruto within the 2027 elections, even when ODM chief Raila Odinga had been to endorse him.
“I will not vote for Ruto in 2027. I cannot support a regime that has destroyed lives, our economy, and is killing our people,” Sifuna acknowledged throughout a neighborhood tv interview.
He emphasised that ODM stays in opposition and won’t be part of the federal government, expressing confidence that Ruto would lose re-election no matter Raila’s stance.
“Even if ODM supports Ruto, he will still lose. As a party, we do not support either the internal affairs or the external affairs of the way this country is being run. William Ruto will lose that election with Raila’s support,” he mentioned.
Sifuna added that ODM would solely align with events that share its values and prioritize residents’ welfare.
“ODM will only enter into alliances with political parties that are like-minded. That is pro-people, that can manage the country. You are not going to force us into an alliance with incompetent people, and it has been demonstrated that the Kenya Kwanza government is the most incompetent so far from independence,” he asserted.