President Ruto extends olive branch to rivals

President William Ruto has asked opposition leaders to consider joining the broad-based government forged with his 2022 poll rival Raila Odinga.

The President, at a church service in his Eldoret backyard, said a united front by leaders would result in a better future for the country as compared with competitive politics.

“I want to ask those hearing this call to come join us; we unite and work on a prosperous Kenya. If every leader is focusing on their interest, who focuses on the interest of the nation?” President Ruto asked.

“Let us work together and I want to assure all Kenyans that nobody, no region, or community will be left behind. We will work together… that is the focus of our drive towards unity.”

The President made the call while his allies called for a consensual approach to the 2027 presidential election. Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi, a Raila ally, urged the head of state to reach out to Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

“The message at KICC was that we are fostering social, economic prosperity. Leave no one behind, Mr President. Even Kalonzo, we need to bring him on board because the journey for prosperity requires all of us,” Atandi said.

He said the two principals of the broad-based pact should work towards reaching out to the opposition.

“I believe that a consensual process, more than a contest, will work for 2027,” the Alego Usonga lawmaker said.

Sudi asked the President to reach out to all, including Mt Kenya leaders like Ndindi Nyoro. 

“Unity is strength. Tribal politics is foolishness. What you did recently was very welcome. If it is possible, reach out to Kalonzo. Reach out to Ndindi Nyoro… even Central,” Sudi said.

The National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) report, which was brought forth by Kalonzo, featured prominently last Friday when the President and Raila signed a pact that will see them run government together.

Kalonzo dismissed the union of the ODM and UDA leaders, saying the former Orange Party leader had betrayed the opposition. President Ruto defended the pact.

However, he said it had nothing to do with gains for individuals, but for the country.

“We decided to unite our country so that development is fast paced. To enhance the momentum, it was necessary to harness the unity of our nation, talent and political goodwill,” the President said.

He argued that much as competition was good because it gives a winner and a loser, unity was better “because it creates a win-win for everybody”.

“Nobody loses in unity... there are no losers… we have winners and winners… I want to encourage us to think about what is in it for the people of Kenya,” Ruto said.

The President asked his detractors, “not to think of the interest of one political party, side or region but the collective population of the nation”.

“I am grateful to all leaders who agreed to unite. We are not in it for planning 2027 or sharing positions but for transforming Kenya,” the President said. He said the government seeks to improve agriculture, grow the economy, entrench universal health coverage, and make more strides in the housing programme “for the benefit of the 50 million Kenyans”.

“That is why this unity and our coming together is important,” the President said, before wading into the controversial issue of church donations.

On church alms and harambees, the President said he would not stop giving to the church, arguing that the critics of his donations are only against the word of God.