The former prime minister stated that he was not offered any position in government nor did he receive any personal gain during the entire stint of the Jubilee regime, insisting their aim was to push for reforms.
“I didn’t influence any appointments in Uhuru’s government. What did I get? I got nothing,” Mr. Odinga said in an interview.
The former Prime Minister emphasized that neither he nor his close allies received any personal favors or appointments under the handshake government, instead he said that Uhuru’s support came during the 2022 general election and that it was made publicly.
“Uhuru was on his way out. He said he would support me, a promise he fulfilled. So how would I have manipulated Uhuru for my benefit during his administration? I didn’t,” Mr. Odinga stated.
The former Lang’ata MP said the handshake, which led to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), was solely intended to address issues of governance and electoral transparency.
He added that the BBI failed because of court rulings, and that he should not be blamed for its collapse.
“It was the courts that stopped BBI. Had it passed, what happened in 2022 would not have occurred,” he said.
His remarks come amid renewed debate over the credibility of his current collaboration with President Ruto in the Unity Government.
Raila explained that the country is still facing serious challenges, prompting ODM to partner with President Ruto’s administration.
“We’ve said we are part of the Unity Government until 2027. What follows will be discussed when the time comes, and the decision will be made by ODM members—not just Raila Odinga,” he said.
According to Mr. Odinga, the partnership with President Ruto was triggered by the Gen Z-led protests, which threatened to destabilize the nation.
He said that had he not taken the step to join forces with President Ruto, Kenya might now be facing instability similar to that in Somalia, Haiti, or Sudan.