After denials, now Raila admits to meeting Ruto on new Cabinet

Opposition leader Raila Odinga during a funeral in Gem, Siaya County. [Michael Mute, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has revealed he had discussions with President Wiliam Ruto before four of his allies were nominated to join the Cabinet.

Raila painted a picture of the urgency President Ruto had in his bid to appoint a new Cabinet to quell the political tension that had gripped the country.

It also casts doubt on the sincerity of  earlier proclamations by his ODM party, when some members dismissed claims the opposition held talks with the president over the Cabinet.

Raila's assertions are a contrast to earlier claims by himself and other party members over the nomination of ODM deputy party leaders Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho, party chairman John Mbadi and Minority Leader in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi to join President William Ruto's Cabinet

According to Raila, the president had told him he was in an urgent need to form an all-inclusive Cabinet and had requested for experts from the opposition wing.

"I had told him if you feel you are in a fix, just make your things work. He requested that he had a government to run and so he had an urgent need to consolidate a Cabinet," he said.

Raila added: "I told Ruto to wait for a pre-agreement but he said he was in a hurry to have a new Cabinet in place." 

But early this week, Raila appeared to distance himself from the nominations. He said that neither the ODM nor Azimio has entered into any coalition agreement with UDA.

“We had anticipated the crafting of clear terms of engagement based on issues we raised in our various communiques. While we extend our best wishes to the nominees and trust that they will contribute positively to national development, we continue to advocate for a national engagement under the conditions we have previously outlined,” Raila said

Speaking on Saturday in Alego Usonga during the burial of lawyer Evans Oruenjo, Raila said President Ruto had requested him to appoint some experts from the opposition to help him run the country.

He claimed he was also concerned the country was slowly sliding into a state of emergency and he could not just sit back and watch.

"Where we are, we had to sit and talk and we gave conditions," he said.

According to the ODM chief, he was keen to ensure that they had a structured agreement before any of his troops joined the president to help him serve and govern the country.

"I had told him if you feel you are in a fix, just make your things work. You are the one who sent your people away, we cannot do this without structures or sitting down and agreeing but he requested me that he had a government to run and so he had an urgent need to consolidate a cabinet," he said.

Raila said he had released the four ODM leaders nominated to join Ruto's cabinet. 

Raila's allies who have joined Ruto's cabinet are Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, ODM party chairman John Mbadi, ODM deputy party leaders Hassan Joho, and Wycliffe Oparanya to help serve in President Ruto's cabinet.

However, he claimed they have to work in accordance with the ethics of the ODM party.

He said the ODM party remains in the opposition and as a party in the Azimio coalition.

Raila maintained that Kenya requires a national convention with representatives of the people, sitting together to talk constructively about problems affecting the country.

He, however, noted that ODM and Ruto's government had no signed agreement or pact over the same.

He said his decision to set the was as a result of President Ruto's request to recruit members of the cabinet to help with the urgent running of his government and the country.

Raila said Ruto promised that they would put in place structures of this agreement later.

However, Raila explained that there were serious issues that were supposed to be addressed before the national convention.

"These include compensation for the families of victims of police violence and brutality last year and this year, paying hospital bills of those injured during protests, the release of all people arrested and are in police custody, and dropping of all pending charges of those arrested during protests," he explained.

Raila said they had agreed that they would only sit down to dialogue after their concerns were addressed.

"We must come up with what that dialogue is about. Issues raised by Generation Z are not new issues but similar to those we had raised last time. We talked about unemployment in our country, the high cost of living, tribalism, corruption, and the management of debts. These are critical issues that need to be discussed," he noted.

And in yet another change of tune, Siaya Governor James Orengo who had earlier opposed the move to work with Ruto claimed there was a need for a structural relationship between them and Ruto.

Orengo said he was advocating for a similar pact to the one that they had with former President Mwai Kibaki during the grand coalition government.

He argued he wanted the agreement to be such that Ruto cannot sack Raila's allies at will unless he consults him.

"I know there are opportunities but all we want is a structural relationship with those we are going to work with," he added.

He pledged his allegiance to Raila and claimed he was confident he can never lead them astray.

"I know as long as Raila is alive, we will not go a stray. And we must be leaders who can give their opinions," he said.

Last week, Orengo criticized plans by his colleagues in ODM to join hands with the Kenya Kwanza administration. He termed the move as unfortunate and described it as a disaster.

“Taking CS position in the name of ODM betrays the principles of the Constitution and the progressive movement which the party represents. It is absolute treachery and an act of political cannibalism. Even hyenas are not as thirsty to eat the dead,” said Orengo then.

On Saturday, a senior ODM official claimed that Orengo's sentiments could have been meant to test the waters, adding that the resolution to have members join Ruto's cabinet was endorsed by party members.