Kenya president and opposition leader sign deal to work together

NAIROBI, Kenya

President of Kenya, William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have officially signed a political pact signaling an endeavour to work together in one government.

The deal between the Ruto’s ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party and Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was on Friday officially signed at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

President Ruto and Raila both appended their signatures to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) while flanked by their respective party officials.

Speaking after the signing, ODM National Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga lauded the new partnership, terming it a sign of putting national interest above self.

“The unity and stability and prosperity of this country is not the responsibility of a few; it is the responsibility of all of us, as a nation. And while we may have different political persuasions, and come from different parts of the country and different schools of thought, nobody can fault unity. Nobody can fault equity,” she stated.

“This unity that you have put together today is not about the two of you, because Baba has seen it all; in fact he has enough for all generations. The President has sat on all positions. So, in my thinking, this unity is for the young people, women, the marginalized...it is for all Kenyans who have felt like they have never been part of Kenya.”

Her UDA counterpart and Embu County boss Cecily Mbarire echoed the remarks, further lauding the transparency of the process and the contents of the MoU.

Mbarire went ahead to commend President Ruto and Raila for putting aside their differences and hardline stances for the betterment of the nation.

“Today, we’re reminded yet again that the nation will always remain bigger than individual and party interests. I am happy that today, after rumors in the media, we’re not signing an agreement behind closed doors in some private space,” she said.

“I’m also happy that it has taken serious consultations through the party structures to get to where we are. I’m also happy that we have not signed a document which remains a secret to the people who we represent and who matter most. Today, Kenyans know what we have signed up to.”