Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga denied claims that he has benefited from the ongoing Gen Z-led anti-government protests. The allegations, which have been circulating in the media, were firmly dismissed by Raila, who described them as “useless” and unfounded.
Raila clarified that he has not gained anything from the protests, which have seen a large group of young Kenyans demand accountability and change from the government. He also addressed the notion that he might have benefitted politically from the unrest, stating, “I am not a beneficiary of the Gen Z protests. These have been useless allegations made in the media. I’ve not benefited.”
The accusations stem from the ongoing political dynamics within the government, following President William Ruto’s announcement of a broad-based government after his cabinet reshuffle. According to Raila, Ruto approached the opposition, including his Azimio coalition, for potential inclusion in the new government. While some members of the coalition were open to the idea, others were not, leading to the decision by Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party to second certain members to the cabinet.
Raila was keen to clarify that there were no formal negotiations or coalition agreements made during the process. “What happened is that President Ruto said he wanted to involve a larger society in governance and asked if we could give him people from our party. I consulted other colleagues in the Azimio coalition, and some were ready, and some were not, so we basically seconded some of our people to the government to work, but it was not like forming a pact,” he explained.
The ODM leader emphasized that the appointments were based on merit and that individuals seconded to the government were not negotiating terms with the ruling party. They had to relinquish their positions within ODM but remained members of the party.
Despite the reshuffling, Raila expressed that there is still a need for further consultations between the government and the people, particularly in regard to the Gen Z protests. While the protests have somewhat cooled down following Ruto’s cabinet changes, Raila noted that more dialogue is necessary. He revealed that while he had proposed a national dialogue, the youth-led protesters refused to attend, further complicating the path to resolving their grievances.
Raila’s comments come at a time of heightened political tensions, as the government continues to navigate the demands of a restless youth population and the shifting dynamics of Kenya’s political landscape.
