President William Ruto has lauded former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, recognizing him as a genuine leader and patriot who prioritizes the well-being of Kenyans.
During a speech in Siaya on Friday at the homecoming event for Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, Ruto reflected on his involvement in the formation of ODM, emphasizing his longstanding connection with the party.
The president acknowledged Raila’s consistent efforts to put aside personal ambitions for the sake of national unity.
This comes as Raila and Ruto have collaborated to form an inclusive government, with some ODM members being appointed to the Cabinet.
“I want to express my gratitude to my elder brother Raila Amollo Odinga for agreeing to set aside our differences to unite, stabilize, advance, develop, and secure Kenya. He has prioritized the needs of the nation above those of leaders and political parties,” Ruto stated.
Ruto also recalled his support for Raila during his tenure as Prime Minister of Kenya.
“To my friend Raila Odinga, despite being my competitor and former party leader, today we stand united for the greater good of Kenya. I salute you as a remarkable Kenyan, a true patriot with a deep love for our nation,” the president continued.
Ruto further noted that his victory in the 2022 elections was a triumph for all Kenyans.
He added that the formation of a broad-based government has demonstrated that his victory was indeed inclusive.
“Although we were rivals, the victory I achieved was on behalf of all Kenyans. Even if you doubted it at the time, you can now see it for yourselves. Now, the former Minority Leader in Parliament, Opiyo Wandayi, is a Cabinet Secretary in the government,” he added.
On Tuesday, Ruto formally launched Raila’s campaign for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission.