Raila Stands Firm: No Betrayal, No Recognition of Ruto

Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition, has reaffirmed that the coalition will not recognize President William Ruto as the country’s duly elected leader.

In a statement issued following a two-day meeting of the Azimio Parliamentary Group in Machakos, Odinga issued a warning to coalition members that any form of betrayal will not be tolerated.

“The Parliamentary Group reiterates its position that Azimio does not recognize Dr. William Ruto as the legitimate President of the Republic of Kenya,” Odinga’s Spokesperson Dennis Onyango said in a statement.

“In this struggle, we will not tolerate actions that constitute a betrayal of the hopes and dreams of the Kenyan people. Therefore, Azimio asks its elected officials to shape up or ship out.

There will be no wiggle room here. Under no circumstances are flirtations and cohabitations with the Kenya Kwanza regime acceptable.”

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The Azimio Chief reiterated that the State House does appropriate funds, so Azimio legislators should not assert that they are pursuing development funds in their association with the Executive.

Rather, he cautioned the legislators against succumbing to “blackmail” politics, which would derail their service delivery and representation of their constituents.

Odinga stated, “We have currently engaged in a just struggle for this nation; a struggle for a decent standard of living, a struggle for democracy, and a struggle to protect our hard-won multiparty political system.”

“Development should be sought from the legislature, which appropriates funds, and not from the White House.” State Capitol has no constitutional authority or mandate to appropriate funds. This responsibility and authority rest with the two houses of Parliament, the Senate and the National Assembly.”

He added, “Our people must not give in to the blackmail, dirty politics, and dirty money of the regime struggling for legitimacy.”

Odinga’s remarks follow a meeting between coalition-aligned legislators and President William Ruto at the State House in Nairobi.

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Senator Tom Ojienda of Kisumu, MPs Felix Odiwuor (Langata), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Paul Abuor (Rongo), and Walter Owino were among the members of parliament

Thursday, the former prime minister referred to the leaders’ actions as “political prostitution” and called for their resignation.

While in Machakos, he stated, “This is political prostitution, and it must be condemned by all civilized Kenyans.”

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