President William Ruto at former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s state funeral at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Bondo/PCSPresident William Ruto has revealed that he had no fear of losing the 2022 presidential election to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Speaking during Raila’s state funeral at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Bondo, Ruto said his calmness during the heated contest surprised many of his supporters.
“Many of those who were supporting me were wondering why I had no problem with the outcome of the 2022 election,” Ruto said. “The reason was that the contest was between Raila and his student. It did not matter who won — either Raila was going to win, or his political student, William Ruto.”
The President told mourners that even in defeat, he would have considered it a personal victory, highlighting the ideological alignment he shared with Raila.
“When they asked me, ‘How can you compete with Uhuru and Raila?’ I told them I had no problem if Raila had won — because I would still be victorious,” he said.
Ruto added that Raila’s development agenda closely mirrored his own, particularly in key sectors such as healthcare, housing, agriculture, and education.
“It was just a student and his teacher. We had similar visions for this country,” he said.
Ruto’s reflections go back to the early days of his political career, when he and Raila stood side by side in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
During the 2007 general elections, Ruto was one of Raila’s most trusted allies, helping mobilise massive support in the Rift Valley and cementing ODM’s national reach.
Their alliance, built on a shared vision for reform, devolution, and political transformation, played a key role during one of Kenya’s most tumultuous political transitions.
However, following the formation of the Grand Coalition Government in 2008, the two eventually parted ways.
Despite their political differences in subsequent years, Ruto and Raila maintained mutual respect — a relationship that culminated in the 2024 rapprochement that saw the two leaders engage in a landmark power-sharing agreement, brokered with the help of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Raila’s funeral brought together thousands of mourners from across Kenya and beyond, reflecting his stature as a national and continental figure.
The emotional ceremony marked the conclusion of the official mourning period for a man often hailed as the father of modern Kenyan democracy.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, and international figures including Obasanjo.
