Home » William Ruto heaps rare praise on Raila for the success of ODM party

William Ruto heaps rare praise on Raila for the success of ODM party

by Nderi Caren

Deputy President William Ruto has praised Raila Odinga over the success of ODM Party while criticising the fall of Jubilee party

After its formation in 2005, ODM Party has stood strong as the only party with representation across the country amid the political tides in Kenya’s political landscape.

Speaking during an interview on Radio Jambo, Ruto said that even though Raila Odinga is his biggest competitor, he gives him credit for being able to keep ODM Party strong for a long time.

His praises on Raila Odinga and ODM party come amid the fall of the Jubilee Party.
His praises on Raila Odinga and ODM party come amid the fall of the Jubilee Party. Photo: ODM Party/Twitter.

“…and the party which by far was close to the Jubilee is ODM. And even if I am competing with Raila, I must give him credit for ensuring that ODM becomes a national party,” Ruto said.

His praises on Raila Odinga come amid the fall of the Jubilee Party, which Ruto belives can never not prosper to achieve the earlier vision of becoming a national party as it has been held captive.

He added that more members of Jubilee Party will soon be shifting to UDA as they prepare for the next General Election.

“All the Jubilee leaders, all the governors, and even those leaders holding positions are just waiting for the right time. In November, you will see dust in Kenya. You will be astonished,” he assured.

Ruto himself was a member of ODM but left to form his United Republica Party at the height of the campaigns for the 2010 referendum in which Ruto was on the opposing side and lost.

Ruto’s URP party was one of the major parties which folded to form the Jubilee Party on which he and Uhuru successfully vied for the presidency in 2017.

It could be this huge sacrifice that has made Ruto very bitter with the treatment he has received in Jubilee Party, something he has not shied away from speaking about in public.

The deputy president’s latest prise of Raila comes amid heated verbal attacks between the two with each accusing the other of being corrupt.

Raila recently questioned Ruto’s source of huge donations he makes in churches, prompting a sharp reaction from the former Eldoret North MP.

“They accuse me of helping churches, boda boda riders, and mama mboga, but they don’t tell you I once helped them until they got big positions in government,” he said in a church function on July 4.

Even though the ODM has survived the political tides, it is now mulling at a coalition with Jubilee Party.

It is only a matter of time to see if the upcoming coalition will strengthen ODM more, or will be the beginning of its downfall.

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