Raila Odinga and his ODM party have now joined President William Ruto’s government under what is being called a broad-based government framework.
This move has raised a lot of debate, with many questioning whether Raila is truly aligning himself with Ruto or if he has a bigger political strategy in play.
Raila has not yet given a clear statement on his political direction, but he has promised to do so soon. This has left many Kenyans guessing about what his next move will be.
Political commentator Nick Mwangi has weighed in on this latest development, stating that Raila is not doing anything surprising.
According to Mwangi, Raila has always had a habit of working with the government of the day when it suits his political survival.
He reminded Kenyans that Raila has previously made deals with former presidents Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and Uhuru Kenyatta. In all these cases, Raila started off as a strong opponent of the government but later found a way to work with them.
Now, he has taken the same path with President William Ruto, showing that his approach to politics has not changed.
Mwangi pointed out that politics is about survival, and Raila understands that to stay relevant, he must always find a way to position himself at the center of power.
He noted that Raila’s ability to shift between opposition and cooperation has helped him maintain influence in Kenya’s political landscape for decades. This ability to adapt has allowed Raila to remain a key political figure even when he is not in government.
However, Raila’s latest move has not been received well by all his supporters. Some feel that he has betrayed the opposition by working with the same government he once criticized.
They argue that this is a repeat of the 2018 handshake between Raila and Uhuru Kenyatta, which many believe weakened the opposition and allowed the government to operate without proper checks.
Others, however, see Raila’s move as a smart political decision that will keep him in the game ahead of the next election. They believe that by working with Ruto, Raila is securing a place in the country’s leadership discussions rather than being left out.
As Raila prepares to announce his next political steps, there is growing interest in how this new alliance will shape the future of Kenyan politics.
Will he fully merge with Ruto’s government, or is this just a temporary arrangement to serve his interests?
Many are waiting to see whether this partnership will last or if Raila will once again change direction when the time is right.
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