A landmark political agreement between President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has ignited mixed reactions across the country.
The two leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), accompanied by their respective party representatives.
The historic pact between Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) aims to address Kenya’s social, economic, and political challenges in 2025.
However, while some have hailed the move as a step towards national unity, others have condemned it as a betrayal of the electorate.
Following the signing ceremony, ODM National Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga praised the agreement, describing it as a demonstration of placing national interests above political differences.
“The unity, stability, and prosperity of this country is not the responsibility of a few; it is the responsibility of all of us. While we may have different political views, nobody can fault unity and equity,” Wanga stated.
The deal was witnessed by hundreds of Kenyans who gathered outside KICC, hoping to see the two political heavyweights officially put pen to paper on the agreement.
However, the pact has sparked backlash from several opposition leaders and citizens. Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who previously partnered with ODM in the Azimio La Umoja coalition, was among the first to criticize the deal.
“What has come out of KICC today is the biggest BETRAYAL of Kenyans. The People’s Loyal Coalition will NEVER betray Kenyans for temporary comfort,” Musyoka declared.
Similarly, former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi took to social media to express his discontent.
“The democratic battle lines have today been drawn with clarity. Henceforth, it will be the People of Kenya versus the Oppressors of Kenyans. I choose to stand with the People of Kenya,” Havi tweeted.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah also voiced his opposition, warning against the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) framework, upon which the MoU is said to be built.
“Anybody supporting NADCO must be destroyed from public life. We must destroy NADCO and insist that the Constitution, the way it is, must be implemented 100%. If it doesn’t work, then we can move to amend it,” Omtatah said.
The MoU comes just weeks after Raila Odinga conceded the African Union Commission Chairmanship to Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf. The former prime minister had recently concluded a two-week nationwide consultative tour, seeking public input on his next political move.
