Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has strongly refuted Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s recent assertions regarding former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s role in shaping President William Ruto’s broad-based government.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Kioni vehemently disputed Odinga’s claims, accusing the opposition leader of attempting to tarnish Kenyatta’s reputation following what Kioni described as Odinga’s “ill-fated decision” to collaborate with Ruto.
Odinga’s Claims
Earlier this week, Odinga suggested that Kenyatta had urged him to engage with Ruto to address the national crisis exacerbated by Gen Z protests. According to Odinga, the country was on the brink of collapse due to the unrest, and Kenyatta had allegedly pressed him to facilitate dialogue with Ruto to restore stability.
Kioni’s Rebuttal
Kioni dismissed these claims as misleading and inaccurate. He referenced a letter written by Kenyatta on July 25, in which the former president expressed grief over the loss of lives during the protests and urged elected officials to heed the voice of the people.
“Kenyatta’s stance is clear: he opposes joining a government responsible for causing widespread hardship and corruption,” Kioni stated. “The notion that Kenyatta would endorse a partnership with Ruto’s administration is fundamentally flawed.”
Criticism of Odinga
The Jubilee Secretary General criticized Odinga for allegedly dragging Kenyatta’s name into the controversy as a means of deflecting blame from his own controversial decision to work with the Kenya Kwanza regime. Kioni suggested that Odinga’s move to form a broad-based government was a mistake, driven by the declining popularity of his own position among Kenyans.
“Dragging other people’s names through the mud does not absolve you of your own poor decisions,” Kioni said. “When you make a mistake, it’s important to own up to it rather than shifting the blame.”
Broader Political Context
Kioni also reflected on the broader political context, asserting that Odinga had a history of misleading the public for personal advantage. He cited the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, accusing Odinga of failing to keep the Azimio team fully informed while engaging with the government behind closed doors.
Conclusion
The Jubilee Party Secretary General dismissed the notion that Kenyatta had urged Odinga to negotiate with Ruto for the sake of national unity. According to Kioni, Kenyatta’s current political stance does not align with the narrative presented by Odinga.
“Odinga’s claims about Kenyatta’s supposed encouragement to engage with Ruto are simply not true,” Kioni stated. “If you look at Kenyatta’s recent actions and statements, it’s clear he does not support this government.”
