At the funeral of the late Mzee Chirchir Masit in Elgeyo Marakwet, Kenya’s veteran opposition leader, Raila Odinga, made a series of profound statements that shed light on the current state of the nation, his political engagements with President William Ruto, and his future aspirations within the African Union.
Raila Odinga revealed that former President Uhuru Kenyatta had personally reached out to him during a time of national unrest. According to Odinga, Kenyatta sought his assistance in addressing the grievances raised by the youth, particularly the Generation Z demographic, who have become increasingly vocal in their demands for change.
“When the country was burning, former President Kenyatta called me and asked me to reach out to President Ruto to find a solution to the issues being raised by Gen Zs,” Odinga stated.
Odinga also took the opportunity to clarify his current relationship with President Ruto, dispelling rumors of any formal coalition between them. “I am not in government. We never agreed with Ruto that we should have a coalition government. He requested me to help him identify people from my side to serve in his administration. I did exactly that,” Odinga explained.
Odinga further expressed his interest in the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), a role that would place him at the helm of continental leadership. However, he stressed that his commitment to his home country remains paramount. “I have shown interest in the AUC chairperson’s job, but I will not be settled down there in Addis Ababa when my home country is in turmoil,” Odinga asserted.
Odinga expressed optimism about the future, noting that despite political differences, there is potential for progress. “I am confident we shall move forward as a nation,” he concluded, offering a message of hope and unity to a country that has faced significant political challenges in recent years.
