Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has shed light on his decision to work alongside President William Ruto following a wave of deadly youth-led protests that shook the country earlier this year.
Speaking on Monday in Machakos County during the ODM Parliamentary Group meeting, Raila disclosed that Kenya was on the brink of collapse when youths took to the streets demanding accountability from the government.
He said the deployment of military officers in major towns without formal authorization had heightened tensions and threatened to push the nation into uncharted territory.
“The presence of the military on the streets without proper orders was a recipe for disaster,” Raila remarked. “At that moment, I had to make a choice.
It was better to act in a way that safeguarded the country rather than fuel its collapse. We needed to ensure that Kenya remained under civilian leadership, not military rule.”
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The opposition chief noted that his move to cooperate with the government was not about personal or political gain but a strategic decision to protect the country’s democracy and stability.
He emphasized that Kenya’s long struggle for multiparty democracy would have been undermined if the military assumed control in the midst of unrest.
Raila further appealed to leaders across the political divide to prioritize the interests of the nation over partisan battles.
He cautioned that political rivalry should never supersede the unity and survival of the country, particularly at a time when young people are increasingly restless over issues of governance, unemployment, and corruption.
“Our leaders must learn to put the country first in all their discussions. Kenya is bigger than any individual or political formation,” he urged.
The ODM leader’s remarks come against the backdrop of ongoing efforts to mend relations between the opposition and government after months of confrontation.
His decision to work with President Ruto has sparked mixed reactions within his party and among his supporters, with some welcoming the move as statesmanship while others view it as a betrayal of opposition ideals.
Nonetheless, Raila maintained that history would judge leaders not by how strongly they opposed each other, but by the actions they took to safeguard peace and stability when the nation faced peril.
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