- “It’s Uhuru who called me and told me to talk to Ruto because we have to secure the country and save it from burning,” Raila said.
- He said they talked with Ruto on the phone and agreed to meet and discuss the situation in the country.
ODM leader Raila Odinga has stated that former President Uhuru Kenyatta asked him to talk to President William Ruto to resolve the crisis caused by the Gen Z protests. https://shorturl.at/l3tq4
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
ODM leader Raila Odinga has revealed that former President Uhuru Kenyatta asked him to talk to President William Ruto to resolve the crisis caused by Gen Z protests.
He said the country was on the brink of collapse as a result of the demonstrations.
“Uhuru said if the country went down, then we have no other country," Raila said.
He spoke at the funeral of Chirchir Masit, the father to former IEBC commissioner Irene Masit.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and Elgeiyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich were also present.
Raila said he spoke with Ruto on phone and agreed to meet him and discuss the security situation.
The ODM leader said the GEN Zs raised genuine concerns and that they were not mad.
Some of the issues the protesters wanted to resolve include corruption and the high cost of living.
“When we spoke, I told Ruto that those he put in government, especially in Cabinet were not serving the country and had to be removed,” Raila said.
He said even the PSs are not working as required and are a burden to Kenyans.
Raila said they agreed to form a broad-based government and not a coalition.
He said he talked to Irene Masit, who is currently exiled, on Monday and she is willing to return home.
Irene sent Raila her condolences to deliver to the family and residents of Chepkorio where her father was laid to rest.
Irene fled as a result of the dispute over the results of the last election.
Raila said Irene confided in her and revealed to her the two issues that stressed her father, one of them being her fate outside the country.
“Irene told me she was considered a traitor yet when she served as IEBC commissioner she did nothing wrong," Raila said.
He promised to resolve her situation.
Irene was one of the four commissioners who rejected the results of the last elections.
Mzee Masit died aged 102.
Raila described him as a close friend and a long-time member of ODM.
Sudi asked Irene to return home.
The MP said Irene played her role during the last election and should come back home since since the elections are long gone.
“We are asking Irene Masit to return home immediately. Politics should not get personal. Irene worked closely with Raila and the ODM chief is now working with Ruto for the unity of the country," Sudi said.
He said he considers himself as son to Raila who played a great role in the unity and development of the country.
“There comes a time when Kenyan is bigger than everyone and Odinga has always proved that," Sudi said.
He said the recent deal between Raila and Ruto is proof that the two value the country.
“What the two leaders did was for the sake of the country and they talked as two people with wisdom and agreed on broad based government to save the country," Sudi said.
He described Raila as his friend of more than 17 years.