Wamuzi News Ke
In a startling confession, ODM leader Raila Odinga revealed that former President Uhuru Kenyatta played a pivotal role in engineering the controversial “broad‑based government” pact between himself and President William Ruto—an alliance aimed at defusing national tensions and stabilizing East Africa’s largest economy.
Uhuru Picks Up the Phone—from AmericaIn a televised interview on NTV aired Sunday, Odinga disclosed that it was Uhuru—while abroad in the U.S.—who initiated the breakthrough.
Facing nationwide unrest triggered by anti–finance bill protests last year, Uhuru allegedly phoned Odinga and urged him to engage in dialogue with Ruto “for the country’s sake” .“We were in a standstill; tension on every front,” Odinga recounted. “Uhuru called me—though I resisted—to persuade me to talk to Ruto.
I didn’t have to chase him; Ruto requested the meeting” .
The Alliance That Shocked the Nation.
What ensued was an unusual political truce: despite initial resistance from Odinga and his Azimio colleagues, ODM agreed to appoint “experts” into national Cabinet roles.
The selected figures—Hassan Joho, Wycliffe Oparanya, Opiyo Wandayi, John Mbadi, and Beatrice Askul—were deployed to help navigate economic and social turbulence .Earlier this year, the two leaders formalized their collaboration with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
It included key commitments: implementing the NADCO report, addressing youth unemployment, and enforcing the two‑thirds gender rule .
Governance—It’s Tactical, Not Political.
Odinga stressed that the pact was designed as a temporary stabilizer—not a merger of political ambitions.> “We are in the broad‑based government until 2027. We did not agree to work with UDA beyond 2027. That decision is for party members, not Raila Odinga alone” .
Those words land amid simmering concerns that ODM’s inclusion could dilute parliamentary opposition.
What This Means for Kenya.
Crisis management over politicking: The pact emerged as a direct response to civil unrest and economic anxiety—not a power grab.Uhuru’s ongoing influence: Two years after leaving office, he continues to shape Kenya’s political landscape from abroad.
Arm’s‑length collaboration: ODM’s joined forces not from ambition, but from perceived necessity.The Road to 2027As Kenya approaches the next general election, questions loom:
Will this inter‑party arrangement hold through to 2027, or unravel under political pressure? And will Uhuru’s discreet intervention serve as a model for future reconciliation—or a political liability?
