Azimio la Umoja One Kenyaleader Raila Odinga with his 2022 running mate Martha Karua during their final rally at Kasarani stadium on August 6, 2022. The two leaders have differed over the return of Azimio demos.
Estranged political allies Raila Odinga and Martha Karua on Wednesday clashed over the ODM leader's role in President William Ruto’s broad-based government.
Ms Karua, who is the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader, challenged Mr Odinga to be “excellent” in his choices by formalising the “political marriage” with President Ruto.
While admitting they remain friends, Ms Karua said they had agreed to disagree on ODM’s dalliance with the government.
The two unsuccessfully vied for the presidency on a joint ticket in 2022.
Ms Karua insisted that merging the opposition with the government was against the tenets of the Constitution and democracy.
“When you merge the minority and the majority in parliament, you deny the people power to question the government from the position of strength,” she said, adding that the basis of a multiparty democracy is a distinct majority and minority party in parliament.
“While we bless the broad-based government for those who see it right, I ask them to enter into a holy political matrimony which is a coalition registered by the registrar of political parties,” she added.
She spoke when the leaders shared a podium at Chogoria, Tharaka Nithi County, during the burial of Julius Murungi, the father-in-law of Siaya Governor James Orengo.
On March 7, 2025, Mr Odinga signed a Memorandum of Understanding with President Ruto, but maintained that there was no coalition agreement between the ruling party UDA, and ODM.
Ms Karua argued that a legally sound political partnership will pave the way for a healthy political debate.
The PLP party leader said she would stand her ground in the opposition as it was her right to disagree with her former allies.
“We must continue questioning the government, questioning its policies, saying no to abductions, executions and grand theft of public funds. We must continue saying no to suffering under SHIF,” she added.
However, Mr Odinga maintained his stance that he had not joined the government but had only ‘donated experts to President Ruto’.
“We are against tribalism, we are against discrimination in the sharing of public resources. We have not joined President Ruto, it is the President who came to us for help when he was under fire,” Mr Odinga said.
He added: “I have not joined the government and I am not part of the government.”
While defending Mr Odinga, President Ruto’s advisor Moses Kuria claimed he joined the broad-based government to save the country.
“When we had the Gen Z protests, Mr Odinga could have chosen to let this country burn. We must stand against corruption and abductions without rallying behind tribalism,” Mr Kuria said.
Mr Odinga was also accompanied by Busia Governor Paul Otuoma.
