Why I was against the broad based government – Raila

Raila says his colleagues in Azimio were against it, but a some leaders in ODM asked for it

by BRIAN ORUTA

News21 July 2025 - 10:13

In Summary

According to the ODM boss, the leaders from his party felt that having them in the broad based administration would help resolve the deadlock that the country experienced and that they would help bring in fresh ideas that would help the country move towards the right direction.
During the formation of the broad-based government, five of Raila’s key allies, including Hassan Joho, Wycliffe Oparanya, Opiyo Wandayi, John Mbadi and Beatrice Askul were named Cabinet Secretaries.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga now says that he was against the formation of the broad-based government.

Speaking on Sunday night, Raila said his colleagues in Azimio were also not for it but a section of leaders from his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party asked for it.

According to the ODM boss, the leaders from his party felt that having them in the broad-based administration would help resolve the deadlock that the country experienced and that they would help bring in fresh ideas that would help the country move towards the right direction.

He said they felt the need to have experts in the cabinet.

Raila further explained that they initially refused to join the Kenya Kwanza administration because they had not had the conversation that was started by the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco).

“Ruto said he was going to form a government in consultation with all stakeholders to create a consensus and we said we don’t want to stay in government until we have had a conversation as a people, which did not happen, and then he said he would appoint half of the cabinet so there is no stalemate, which he did.

“We tried to consult among ourselves as Azimio if we could find a way of participating in a broad-based government. I myself was against it, and my other colleagues also, but then eventually the group within my party felt that the stalemate we had required that some experts who are not part of the Kenya Kwanza regime can go into government and see how they can help steady the ship and come up with new ideas to deal with issues in contention,” he said on NTV.

During the formation of the broad-based government, five of Raila’s key allies, including Hassan Joho, Wycliffe Oparanya, Opiyo Wandayi, John Mbadi and Beatrice Askul were named Cabinet Secretaries.

They are in charge of the ministries of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Cooperatives and MSMEs, Energy, National Treasury and East African Community (EAC), Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) & Regional Development, respectively.