Ruto, Raila deal in danger as their allies point finger at each other

The working arrangement between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga is under strain due to emerging faultiness between the two camps. 

These divisions have sparked misunderstandings, complicating the relationship between the partners.

Some government leaders accuse ODM counterparts of disrespecting the President, while a section of Mt Kenya leaders claim that remarks by leaders like Homa Bay Town MP George Kaluma amount to ethnic profiling.

One of Kaluma’s social media posts, which angered Ruto’s Mt Kenya allies, alleged that key positions in the State Department of Roads were all held by members of one community.

“These tribalists sit on committees that recruit, discipline, and promote staff. They exclusively classify and plan roadworks, decide which ones to fund, who undertakes the work, and when to release payments to contractors. This violates Article 232 of the Constitution, which mandates ethnic, regional, and gender balance, as well as the integration of minorities and persons with disabilities in public service,” Kaluma claimed.

Fearing backlash from Kenya Kwanza and ridicule from allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Ruto’s supporters have expressed their frustrations discreetly, seeking private audiences with the President’s confidants.

“Such utterances make us look foolish to our electorate and put us in a tricky position. Publicly criticising Kaluma could validate Gachagua’s claims that our region is being sidelined,” said one Ruto ally.

Some Kenya Kwanza supporters also accuse ODM leaders of blackmailing the President over issues like the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund. They have urged Raila to restrain ODM governors James Orengo (Siaya) and Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), as well as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who have criticised the broad-based government.

“Nyong’o, Orengo and Sifuna must respect the broad-based arrangement. If they have issues with the President, they should address them constructively. We ask Raila to rein in his troops,” said Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei.

Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale, who has also appeared uneasy with the alliance, claimed that the Western region was not involved in its formation.

“When the broad-based government was formed, neither I, Mudavadi, nor (National Assembly Speaker Moses) Wetang’ula were consulted. The Western region is not part of this agreement. We must speak the truth to our people,” the Kakamega Senator said.

Khalwale has also intensified his attacks on Raila, accusing him of double-dealing.

“@RailaOdinga, you can’t have it both ways! The opposition and government are mutually exclusive. Choose one,” Khalwale posted on X.

During the burial of Francis Ngaru, husband of politician Mumbi Ngaru, Raila also criticised Ruto’s affordable housing project and market construction initiatives, arguing they are county functions.

“The national government should release resources to counties for health and roads. Counties should build their own markets and handle affordable housing. We should allocate 40 per cent of funds to counties, not 15 per cent, so governors can be held accountable,” he said.

Ruto, however, has defended centralized management of the roads levy.

“If you leave the funds to me, I will fund all these road projects. County-managed funds often build murram roads that wash away after one day of rain,” he said in Narok last week.

ODM leaders, in turn, accuse Ruto’s UDA party of using the alliance to gain popularity in Nyanza. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, ODM’s national chairperson, vowed to protect the party’s dominance in the region.

“Homa Bay and Nyanza are ODM zones. I won’t allow UDA to challenge us. If they want to try, bring it on,” said Wanga.

To sustain the alliance, President Ruto has embarked on a four-day tour of Nyanza, emphasising collaboration over competition.

“ODM members should know this government belongs to them, just as it does to UDA members and all Kenyans,” Ruto said at an interdenominational church service in Suna East, Migori County.