President William Ruto has dismissed claims that his agreement with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is about power-sharing or the 2027 elections. Speaking at the funeral of former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati in Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County, the President stated that the deal is meant to foster national unity and accelerate socio-economic transformation.
The President emphasized that the agreement focuses on addressing youth unemployment, enhancing inclusivity in governance and development, promoting integrity in public service, and curbing wastage in government. He reiterated his commitment to serving all Kenyans, regardless of political affiliations, and called on leaders who believe in national unity to work together.
“To all the leaders who share in the vision of a united and prosperous Kenya that is inclusive, we must work together,” Ruto said.
Dignitaries present at the funeral included Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, and Governors George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia), Ken Lusaka (Bungoma), and Jonathan Bii (Uasin Gishu), among other national and county leaders.
President Ruto assured Kenyans that his administration remains committed to equitable national development, free from tribalism and discrimination. He also reaffirmed that no Kenyan would be profiled based on religion, region, or ethnicity in the issuance of national identification cards.
The President also highlighted the progress made in universal healthcare under the Social Health Authority (SHA), noting that since its launch in October, the program has registered 21 million users, compared to the seven million under the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Eulogizing Chebukati, Ruto described him as a man of integrity, courage, and boldness. He praised the late IEBC chair for standing firm against attempts to manipulate the 2022 presidential election results, emphasizing that Kenya’s democracy was safeguarded because of Chebukati’s resilience.
Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula echoed the President’s sentiments, with the latter stating that all peace-loving Kenyans support the unity pact between Ruto and Odinga, urging politicians to prioritize national unity over division.
