President William Ruto has called on Kenyans to embrace political tolerance, saying competition should never translate into hostility.
Speaking during the ODM Founders’ Dinner marking the party’s 20th anniversary in Mombasa on Saturday evening, he said Kenya’s political players have lessons to draw from the party, whose founder Raila Odinga died on October 15.
Ruto said ODM had sustained its national appeal for two decades by rising above personality-driven, regional and tribal politics.
The President said Raila, who was a former Prime Minister, embodied this approach throughout his career.
“That's how Raila Odinga was able to work with Presidents (Daniel) Moi, (Mwai) Kibaki, Uhuru (Kenyatta) and myself even though they were competitors," he said.
Ruto said celebrating ODM as a national movement should inspire other political parties to uphold ideology over tribalism.
He described Raila as a leader who consistently prioritised the country’s welfare.
“Raila Odinga was not a tribalist. He believed in Kenya. He always extended his wings to cover as many people as possible,” he said.
The President also reflected on his own political journey, noting that he was a founding member and deputy party leader of ODM, and emphasised the importance of strong national parties as anchors of democracy.
He urged the current ODM leadership to safeguard the unity and legacy of the party, warning against internal divisions.
“I urge the people who now have the reins of the management of this party not to undermine the spirit of ODM,” he said.
Ruto encouraged ODM members to continue collaborating with the broad-based government, adding that policy similarities between ODM and the ruling UDA stood at nearly 80 per cent.
“We have the same agenda. If you read the manifestos of ODM and UDA, the difference is maybe only 20 per cent. Let us, therefore, forge forward,” he said.
The event was attended by ODM party leader Oburu Oginga, Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi and deputy party leaders Abdulswamad Nassir and Simba Arati, alongside several governors, senators and CSs.
ODM leaders affirmed their commitment to working with the government within the broad-based arrangement.
Oburu said ODM would support the implementation of policies aligned to its ideals, arguing that political parties naturally seek to be in government, not opposition.
He dismissed calls for street protests.
“All political parties aspire to be in government. Our party is not excluded. Our party is fighting to be in the government in the broad-based arrangement now and in future as ODM or in coalition with other political parties,” he said.
National Assembly minority leader Junet Mohammed echoed this, saying: “We want to be in power; we do not want to be in the streets.”
He added that ODM would continue holding the government accountable in Parliament.
Founding ODM chairman Henry Kosgey praised the party’s two-decade journey and urged members to remain in the broad-based government, saying Kenya’s progress depended on unity.
“Let us stay together as one nation,” he said.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga called for sustained unity and partnerships, noting ODM’s history of coalition-building through Cord, Nasa and Azimio la Umoja.
“As we move into the future, we must continue building partnerships with people who are like-minded so we can move together. We cannot walk alone,” she said.
Treasury CS John Mbadi, the longest-serving chairman of ODM, called on members to honour Raila’s legacy, saying he believed in dialogue.
He told ODM members calling for street protests that there is value in dialogue.
Joho told party members that Raila worked with Presidents Moi, Kibaki Uhuru and Ruto, demonstrating that he believed in partnerships.
Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o said ODM at 20 is a story of the party’s journey of resilience, born out of the fight against a bad constitution in 2005, injustice, unfair governance and desire for people-centred government.
