Raila: Call from Uhuru implored me to help Ruto during protests
What you need to know:
- The revelation, if true, is strange considering the widely held view that Mr Kenyatta is against the administration of Dr Ruto.
- The former president vigorously campaigned against Dr Ruto in the run up to the 2022 General Election.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga has revealed that President Uhuru Kenyatta played a role in the deal between him and President William Ruto, which saw some ODM leaders join Cabinet.
Speaking Tuesday during the funeral service of Mzee Chirchir Masit, father of IEBC ex-Commissioner Irene Masit, in Elgeyo Marakwet County, he revealed that he chose to help President Ruto after Mr Kenyatta implored him to.
While insisting that there is no coalition deal between him and Dr Ruto, he added that he was only intervening "to save Kenya".
"Kenyatta called and said look for Ruto and talk to him...let's put out this fire," he told mourners.
"He said that if Kenya burns we won't have another country."
The revelation, if true, is strange considering the widely held view that Mr Kenyatta is against the administration of Dr Ruto. The former president vigorously campaigned against Dr Ruto in the run up to the 2022 General Election.
In his address, he also revealed that he told President Ruto that his government was failing Kenyans.
“I told William that the team he had appointed to the Cabinet were not delivering to the expectations of Kenyans and that is why the Gen Zs were on the streets demanding better governance,” said the opposition chief.
“These youths are not mad. They have genuine demands that needs to be resolved. These people you have appointed have not done their work well and that is why there is a lot of anger,” explained Mr Odinga.
Police brutality
He then took issue with the use of excessive force by the police, noting that harmless protestors were being shot, leaving many hospitalised with bullet wounds.
“When I talked to President Ruto about the demands and grievances of the youth, he heeded to my advice and that is why we are here with a broad-based government today,” added Mr Odinga.
Apart from the sacking of the Cabinet Secretaries and appointment of fresh one, Mr Odinga said he had asked President Ruto to clean up the Permanent Secretaries as he reckons that a majority of them are "non-performers".
Other leaders present at the burial were Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisely Rotich, Woman Rep Caroline Ngelechei among others.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) and Kapsabet MP Oscar Sudi during the funeral service of Mzee Chirchir Masit at Sitotwo Primary School in Keiyo South Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, on August 13, 2024.
