“I want to be on record. There is no such alliance, as ODM has not entered into any political coalition with President William Ruto’s government” (…) “ODM remains firmly in its position as an opposition party and within Azimio. We are not in coalition with Kenya Kwanza” (…) “They asked for experts from ODM to help them in certain areas. We released them, but that does not mean we joined the Kenya Kwanza government” – Raila Odinga (13.10.2024).
There are certainly someone who wants to brand themselves opposition at any time. That being the political leader and maverick, Raila Odinga. He wants to be seen as an opposition leader and a politician as such. Even if he is a wheeler-dealer who successfully make agreements and handshakes with the government when it fits him. Therefore, the story is a reflection of how he is.
Raila Odinga and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is now connected, a part of and has to acknowledge who they are now. They have maybe no direct agreement or a sort of memorandum of understanding between the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the ODM. However, there are Ministers and former high-ranking officials of the party, which is now in government.
That means the ODM is in Government by definition. The ODM and their leaders are a part of government. They aren’t in opposition but serving in ministries. They are not outsiders and are playing a part in the “broad-based” government of President William Ruto. That is giving leverage and giving political mileage to Odinga.
An Odinga who needs the state support for his case and his petition to become the Chairperson of the African Union. That’s what matters to him at this point. This is why he will be vocal and defend the government itself. It don’t matter how and what, but he will be behind the skirt of Ruto. That’s what he does and he has the motivation to do so.
This is why it is a foolery to say your opposition now. Yes, the man isn’t directly in government, and neither is the whole party a part of the government. However, so many vital people have become ministers and himself is now defending Ruto. So, they aren’t a practical opposition party. They are connected to it and is a part of the government by default now.
In 2024 the ODM is the government and so is Odinga. His not an outsider, but one of them. That’s because of the choices his leaders has chosen and what the party has accepted by doing so. They are now a part of the government. This party isn’t an pure opposition party. That’s a story they cannot sell…
No one is buying it. We are seeing it in front of our eyes. Just like the BBI made him semi-autonomous and connected to the government of Jubilee too. Therefore, we shouldn’t buy this now. It is the same trick, but with another sort of arrangement. All to benefit Odinga and his political party, the ODM. Peace.
MinBane 