Raila: ODM-UDA Alliance Shielded Kenya from Collapse
The army had already taken stands on the streets. They were then still polite to citizens, but it was only a matter of time
Odinga reflected on the volatile June 2024 days, when nationwide protests had brought the country to a standstill. Photo/ KBC Digital
By Juliet Jerotich
Former Premier credits coalition with restoring peace and stability
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have strongly defended his party’s decision to cooperate with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), contending that the move prevented Kenya from descending into complete instability during political turmoil in the nation last year.
Speaking at an ODM Parliamentary Group meeting ahead of the party’s 20th anniversary celebrations, Odinga stated that the country was on the verge of collapse when the two rival parties agreed to join forces for the nation’s sake.
About a year ago, ODM and UDA came together to soothe the storm that was about to submerge the country. Kenya was about to break apart, and our coordination was the anchor that kept the nation stable,” he stated.
Odinga reflected on the volatile June 2024 days, when nationwide protests had brought the country to a standstill. He revealed that the deployment of the military to manage protests had brought Kenya to the brink of an uncontrollable crisis.
The army had already taken stands on the streets. They were then still polite to citizens, but it was only a matter of time before strict orders would have been issued. Once such orders are issued, they execute without question — and we were precariously close to that time,” he warned.
For Odinga, ODM made the decision not for political reasons but for the country’s stability and democracy.
“We figured it is better that there is a functioning country where leadership is altered through the ballot, not through the bullet. That is what spurred us to close ranks with UDA,” he emphasized.
Odinga asserted that the union between the two political outfits has already borne fruit.
The primary objective of that decision has been attained. Kenya is stable and peaceful today. We managed to drive the anarchy challenge away and created a context where individuals can argue differences without jeopardizing the republic, he said.
He further stated that ODM had always held the view of pursuing national interest above party rivalries or leadership differences.
“Regardless of the divergence and suspicion among political players, first we must secure the existence of the nation. We can speak of reforms, improvement, or stewardship only then. That has always been an ODM doctrine,” Odinga stressed.
Reflecting on Kenya’s political past, he noted that actual progress is often achieved whenever leaders set aside differences to work together. He appealed to politicians to remain focused on constitutional duties and not allow themselves to be distracted by populism and individual agendas.
“We are in a stronger and more hopeful position today than we were in mid-2024 or even in 2023,” Odinga concluded.
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