Mbeere Member of Parliament Geoffery Ruku has dismissed ongoing speculation that opposition leader Raila Odinga is eyeing the Prime Minister position, breaking ranks with some of his Kenya Kwanza colleagues who have called for Baba’s inclusion in government.
Speaking on K24 TV on Monday morning February 24, 2025, Ruku, a key ally of President William Ruto, praised Raila’s statesmanship and insisted that the veteran politician had shown no indication of seeking a government role.
“First, Raila is a statesman. He is one of the greatest leaders we have in the Republic of Kenya, not only the Republic of Kenya but also in our continent. There is nowhere Raila Odinga has shown interest in him becoming a Prime Minister in this administration, nowhere,” Ruko said.
The lawmaker recalled Raila’s pivotal role in calming the country during the Gen Z-led protests in June 2024, which posed a significant threat to Ruto’s administration.
“But Raila Odinga has come out to stabilize the nation. After June 25, 2024, Raila Odinga came out to stabilize the nation and his actions achieved in this country having a stable government, a stable institution moving forward. Raila Odinga put the interests of the nation first before his own interests,” Ruku noted.
The Mbeere MP further accused sections of the media of fueling rumours about Raila’s political ambitions.
“Therefore for now I can only it is pure creation of the media that Raila Odinga may be interested in the position of Prime Minister or any other position in the government. Nowhere I have heard Raila Odinga hint of getting interested in any position in this government,” Ruku asserted.
His remarks come amid mounting calls within the Kenya Kwanza coalition to find a role for Raila following his unsuccessful bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.
Belgut MP Nelson Koech, in a separate interview on February 17, 2025, emphasized Raila’s wealth of political experience and suggested the coalition should accommodate him for the country’s benefit.
“Raila Odinga is coming back home. We must consider how to harness his energy, wisdom, and experience. His counsel can help improve governance and society,” Koech said.
He proposed revisiting the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) Report to explore potential roles for Raila, even floating the idea of creating a Prime Minister position through constitutional amendments.
“We could even do better by having the office of the Prime Minister,” Koech suggested.
Addressing concerns about Musalia Mudavadi’s current role, Koech clarified, “He is a Prime Cabinet Secretary, not a Prime Minister. I am just sharing a thought.”
Speculation intensified last week after Raila’s elder brother, Oburu Odinga, was elected chair of the Senate Energy Committee.
Congratulating him, Nandi Senator Kiprotich Arap Cherargei hinted at broader political changes, including the possible appointment of Raila Odinga to a top executive role.
“Congratulations to Senator Oburu Odinga on being elected unanimously as chairperson of the Senate Energy Committee. Next is Baba Raila Odinga as the PM or PCS in the National Executive,” Cherargei posted on X on February 20, 2025.
Cherargei reaffirmed Kenya Kwanza’s commitment to forming an inclusive government.
“We are broadening the government to ensure seamless service delivery across the country,” he said, hinting at forthcoming changes in executive appointments.
Despite these overtures, Raila Odinga has remained silent on the matter, leaving the political landscape rife with speculation about his next move.
Martin Oduor
The alchemist of literary works – a master wordsmith with a proven record of transforming the raw materials of language into a rich tapestry of emotion, thought, and imagination.
Leave a Reply