Mr Raila Odinga (centre) arrives at Kisii Agricultural Training Centre for an ODM meeting on March 6, 2025.
ODM leader Raila Odinga yesterday hinted at having concluded his countrywide consultations on a political deal with President William Ruto.
Mr Odinga has held meetings in Nairobi, Nyanza, Western, North Eastern and Coast regions.
He said the discussions would guide him on the steps to take, with some sources saying the announcement could be as early as today.
“I was in Wajir on yesterday. Before that, I toured counties in Nyanza, Western and the Coast. I’m winding up Nyanza,” he told journalists after a meeting in Kisii yesterday.
“From here, I am going to Narok and then meet the leadership in Nairobi in the evening. This is part of the consultations with the people on the way forward for our country.”
Orange Democratic Movement Deputy Leader and Kisii Governor, Simba Arati, said the consultations have been wide.
“Baba (Raila) has ensured he gets the views of Kenyans across the country. He will not be in all the 47 counties,” Governor Arati said.
“The views will inform him on how to engage with the government.”
Following a meeting with President Ruto in Mombasa on February 24, Mr Odinga said he would consult leaders and ODM members on the way forward after his AU Commission chairmanship election loss early this month.
Mr Odinga said issues raised by Kenyans include the efficacy of the Social Health Authority (SHA), inadequate funding to counties, reduced funding to county assemblies, infrastructure development, affordable housing and the construction of markets.
President Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza coalition administration dismiss critics of the new medical plan, which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund.
During the burial of Malava MP Moses Malulu Injendi on Saturday, Dr Ruto said most of those criticising the system are not even registered with SHA.
According to a recent report by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, the government has spent Sh104 billion on the SHA. President Ruto denies the report.
“These are national concerns whose answers Kenyans need,” Mr Odinga said.
“Kenyans have expressed concerns over many things. They have talked about the healthcare system, which has serious challenges.”
Mr Odinga added that he would soon give direction on the broad-based government arrangement and the 2027 General Election.
“Many Kenyans say our country is in crisis but that this crisis can be solved. I will soon say which way we want to go,” he said.
Mr Odinga said the country faces the challenges “due to lack of proper attention to critical issues and stealing of public resources”.
“The animal called corruption is responsible for the poor public services,” he said.
President Ruto and his supporters deny claims of widespread corruption in the government, even as reports from independent agencies indicate so.
Others at the Kisii meeting that was held at the Agricultural Training Centre were Bomachoge Borabu MP Obadiah Barongo and Nominated MP Irene Mayaka.
Several ODM lawmakers and leaders were not present for reasons not immediately established. They included Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and his Nyamira colleague Okong’o Omogeni.
MPs Anthony Kibagendi (Kitu Chache South), Clive Gisairo (Kitu Masaba) and Daniel Manduku (Nyaribari Masaba) also stayed away.
Some local pundits say Mr Odinga’s reception in the region has been lukewarm because he has not included people from Kisii and Nyamira in the broad-based government appointments.
Some leaders in Kisii have been calling on former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to contest the presidency in 2027. Mr Onyonka and Mr Kibagendi are among these leaders.
Mr Odinga’s party donated “experts” to the Cabinet to calm tensions following the June 2024 Gen Z uprising.
Mr Odinga also condemned the endless clashes on the Kisii-Narok border.
“The country continues to lose lives to livestock thieves. I have talked to officials in charge of security and told them to end this unnecessary shedding of blood,” he said.
At least eight people have been hospitalised following clashes in Kiango.
Trouble started when three cows were reportedly stolen. Hospitals have been treating people with arrow injuries.
