Raila defends pact with Ruto, says country must move on

Former prime minister Raila Odinga has defended his working agreement with president William Ruto, saying the country must move on.

Speaking in Machakos county on Saturday, Raila said there was need for the country to move on instead of politicking for five years.

He was attending the burial ceremony of Retired colonel James Nguyo Gitahi,husband to nominated senator Betty Montet.

“What is important is that Kenya remains together. Kenyans need to live between now and 2027,” he adding that many Kenyans were still grappling with high cost of living.

That, coupled with corruption, is why they signed the 10-point agenda.

He called out those saying Ruto must go saying, “Ruto aende alafu?” he asked noting the 2027 elections will come, and Kenyans should wait, however, there pressing needs must be addressed now, hence the agreement.

“We cannot campaign for five years, the country cannot go forward,” he notes that with the country in campaign mode, no work will be done.

This was Raila’s public appearance after President Ruto concluded his five-day tour in Nairobi, which received a lot of criticism, as many saw it as a campaign strategy.

Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna said that he will hold UDA accountable for the fulfillment of the specifics contained in the pact, adding that in part of the agreement, Kenya Kwanza pledged to end abductions.

The Senator said that in an instance where an abduction case will be reported, Kenya Kwanza would breached the agreement.

“If Kenyan police won’t be accountable and compensate families that lost their loved ones as the agreement says, President Ruto and UDA will have gone against our agreement,” the ODM secretary general said, adding that they want UDA to honour the pact.

Similarly, he noted that as agreed, the counties ought to get an equitable share of Sh450 billion from the next Financial year.

At the same time, Sifuna refuted claims that he distanced himself from the signing ceremony between President Ruto and his party chief Raila Odinga.

Senate Majority leader and Kericho senator Aaron Cheruiyot, while backing Sifuna on holding UDA and his party chief accountable, noted that some of the specifics of the document like the disbursement of funds, do not fall in the President and ODM chief’s hands.

“Disbursing money to the counties is for me and you, Sifuna, and that one we must do,” Cheruiyot said.