Emmanuel Omurunga
RAILA ODINGA denies being a beneficiary of Gen Z Protests – Explains his collaboration with RUTO
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has rejected claims that he benefited from the Gen Z protests in June and July.
Speaking on Friday, Raila called the allegations baseless, stating they are fabricated by the media.
“I am not a beneficiary of the Gen Z protests. These allegations are baseless and made by the media. I have not benefited,” he stated on Citizen TV.
He explained that President William Ruto aimed to create a broad-based government after dissolving his cabinet and asked for individuals from the opposition party, Azimio.
Raila mentioned that he consulted his Azimio coalition partners; some agreed while others did not, leading his party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), to second some members.
He further clarified that no coalition negotiations occurred, and ODM members in the Cabinet were appointed based on merit.
He emphasized that while they gave up their positions in party leadership, they remain ODM members.
“What happened was that President Ruto expressed a desire to involve a larger society in governance and requested people from our party. I consulted others in the Azimio coalition; some were willing, while others were not, resulting in us seconding some members to the government, but it was not a formal pact.
“It was not a coalition because we did not negotiate.
“Those individuals were hired based on merit and had to step down from their party positions but continue as party members,” Raila said.
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