President William Ruto has issued a strong and emotional defense of his decision to work with the late opposition leader Raila Odinga at the height of Kenya’s 2024 political crisis, describing the move as one of the most courageous and patriotic acts of his presidency. The Head of State, speaking with an air of resolve, said his choice to extend an olive branch to Raila was not about politics or personal gain but about saving Kenya from potential collapse at a time when the nation was teetering on the edge of unrest.
Highlights
- President Ruto has publicly rebuked critics who attacked him for working with Raila Odinga in 2024.
- He said the alliance was necessary to protect Kenya from sliding into political and economic turmoil.
- Ruto emphasized that true leadership requires humility, courage, and sacrifice.
- The President hailed Raila Odinga’s patriotism and legacy of dialogue.
- He vowed to continue pursuing unity-driven politics despite resistance from some quarters.
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In a fiery and impassioned address, President William Ruto revisited one of the most defining and controversial moments of his leadership: his unexpected decision to work with the late Raila Odinga in 2024, at a time when Kenya was on the brink of political chaos.
Ruto made it clear that he has no regrets, despite facing criticism from allies and opponents alike. He accused some of his detractors of “playing politics with peace” and misunderstanding what it meant to lead in times of uncertainty.
“I will not apologize for choosing dialogue over confrontation,” Ruto declared. “When our nation’s peace was at stake, I did what I believed was right for Kenya not for me, not for my party, but for the millions who just wanted stability.”
The events of 2024 remain etched in the nation’s memory. Kenya was engulfed in waves of protests sparked by economic hardship, political mistrust, and growing public frustration. Cities across the country witnessed demonstrations that, at times, turned violent. Tensions between government forces and opposition supporters were escalating dangerously.
Amid this volatility, Ruto made a move few saw coming reaching out to his long-time political rival, Raila Odinga. The two leaders, once fierce opponents, held a series of closed-door talks that would eventually lead to a rare political truce.
Their agreement called for calm on the streets, dialogue on key reforms, and collaboration on stabilizing the economy. The move immediately lowered tensions, brought peace to previously volatile regions, and paved the way for national reflection.
Ruto’s decision, however, came at a political cost. Some of his supporters accused him of betraying his electoral base and “rewarding the opposition.” Within his own party, murmurs of discontent spread, with certain leaders warning that Raila’s influence could weaken Ruto’s political agenda.
But for Ruto, it was a price worth paying. “If standing for peace makes me unpopular, then so be it,” he said. “I will never regret extending a hand to a fellow patriot who wanted Kenya to move forward.”
The President argued that leadership demands the ability to see beyond political tribes and to act decisively in moments of national tension. “Kenya has suffered before because leaders chose sides instead of solutions. I refused to repeat that mistake,” he added.
Ruto paid glowing tribute to the late Raila Odinga, acknowledging him as a statesman who put Kenya first even in moments of deep political difference. He credited Raila’s willingness to engage in dialogue for helping the country navigate one of its most turbulent chapters.
“Raila was a man of conviction,” Ruto said solemnly. “He loved this country deeply, and even when we disagreed, I never doubted his patriotism. He understood that unity is not weakness it is wisdom.”
The President described their 2024 partnership as a “moment of maturity” for Kenyan politics, noting that the two men were able to rise above old rivalries and work together for the common good.
Ruto recalled how their cooperation led to the creation of joint reform initiatives focusing on youth employment, cost of living, and electoral justice. These efforts, he said, not only calmed the political climate but also revived investor confidence and reopened channels for dialogue between communities divided by partisan loyalties.
“Many people do not understand what it takes to hold a country together when everyone else is pulling it apart,” Ruto said. “It takes humility. It takes sacrifice. It takes the courage to sit down with those who once stood against you and say: for the sake of Kenya, let us move forward together.”
He emphasized that the decision to work with Raila was guided by conscience and faith in the nation’s future, not political convenience. “Kenya needed healing, and I had to choose do I lead a divided nation or do I bring people together? I chose unity, and I would do it again.”
Turning his attention to those who have continuously used the 2024 partnership to attack him politically, Ruto was unflinching. “Some of the loudest critics today were silent when our country was on fire,” he said. “They had no plan, no alternative, and no courage. Yet today they want to lecture us about loyalty.”
He accused certain leaders of twisting history for personal gain and warned that Kenya’s future cannot be shaped by those who thrive on division. “Leadership is not about noise; it is about results. And the result of that cooperation was peace.”
Ruto added that the true test of leadership lies not in maintaining popularity, but in doing what must be done even when it costs you politically. “History does not remember who shouted the loudest; it remembers who stood firm when it mattered most.”
As he reflected on Raila’s death, Ruto urged Kenyans to uphold the values that defined their unlikely partnership respect, dialogue, and national unity. He described Raila as a “giant of reconciliation” whose courage to face his rivals head-on and find common ground should inspire future generations.
“Raila taught us that politics is not war; it’s a contest of ideas,” Ruto said. “He was willing to sit across the table with those he disagreed with for the sake of the nation. That is leadership.”
He called upon young leaders to emulate that spirit of selflessness and to remember that Kenya’s future depends on collaboration, not confrontation. “The peace we enjoy today came from difficult choices. Let us not take that for granted.”
Ruto’s remarks carried both a message of remembrance and a subtle warning to his political opponents. He reminded them that national unity cannot be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. “We cannot afford to return to a politics that divides us by tribe, class, or party. Kenya’s destiny will only be fulfilled when we see each other as one people,” he said.
He pledged that his administration would continue to work with all leaders regardless of political affiliation in advancing the nation’s interests. “Raila showed us that dialogue is not weakness. It is the highest form of strength.”
As he closed his remarks, President Ruto reflected on how the 2024 experience had shaped his leadership philosophy. “I learned that sometimes, the hardest decisions are the most necessary ones,” he said. “When the storm is raging, true leaders don’t run away they hold the ship steady.”
He urged Kenyans to build on the peace that emerged from that turbulent year and to honour Raila’s memory not through division, but through continued dialogue and unity. “Kenya must never again be torn apart by politics. We owe it to those who came before us, and to the generations that will follow.”
Ruto’s speech ended with a moment of silence for Raila Odinga, the man with whom he once locked horns, but later shared the same vision of a peaceful and united nation.
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