Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has vehemently denied allegations suggesting that he is a primary beneficiary of the Gen Z-led anti-government protests, labeling such claims as baseless and media-driven fabrications.
Speaking on Citizen TV on Friday, Raila dismissed the reports as “useless allegations” and clarified his position.
“I am not a beneficiary of the Gen Z protests. These are baseless allegations made up by the media. I have not benefited in any way,” said the ODM leader.
Raila provided further context, explaining that President William Ruto had sought to create a broad-based government after dissolving his cabinet. The President approached the opposition, requesting nominees from the Azimio coalition, of which Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is a key member.
According to Raila, the decision to second ODM members was made after consultations within the Azimio coalition. While some partners supported the idea, others opposed it. Raila emphasized that the appointments were not part of any negotiated coalition deal but were based solely on merit.
“President Ruto wanted to involve a broader cross-section of society in governance. After consulting my Azimio colleagues, we decided to second some of our members to government roles. This was not a coalition or a formal pact. These individuals were hired based on their qualifications, relinquishing their party positions but retaining their membership in ODM,” Raila clarified.
The former Prime Minister also refuted claims that he used the Gen Z protests to secure political leverage or bargain for government positions. He reiterated his earlier proposal for a national dialogue to address the youth’s grievances, which, he noted, was rejected by the protesters themselves.
Raila acknowledged that while President Ruto may have quelled some of the protests by reshuffling his cabinet, further consultation and dialogue remain necessary to address the concerns of young protesters effectively.
“I proposed a national dialogue, but the youthful protesters declined to participate. While the cabinet reshuffle may have tempered the unrest, more engagement is needed to fully resolve the underlying issues,” he concluded.
