Ex-Raila aide Jakakimba: Luo nation’s future secure in Ruto’s broad-based government

Silas Jakakimba, the long-serving aide to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has declared that the Luo Nation’s political future remains firmly anchored in the broad-based government, warning against attempts to reverse what he describes as a collective resolve to work with President William Ruto’s administration.

In a powerful statement reflecting on Raila’s life, times and political legacy, Jakakimba maintained that the Luo community must remain committed to the shared vision of a united, peaceful and economically transformed Kenya.

He argued that decades of political struggle, sacrifices and bloodshed in the pursuit of democracy and good governance should now translate into tangible development, equality and an end to the historical marginalisation of the Luo nation.

“Kenya first under President William Samoei Ruto because sawa, ni sawa. And Nyanza is not remaining behind,” Jakakimba declared.

‘No turning back’ on broad-based politics

Jakakimba’s remarks deliver a pointed political message to those he intimated may be seeking to push the Luo community back towards hard-line opposition politics, insisting that such efforts will find little support among a community he says has already made its collective decision.

He invoked Raila’s decades-long struggle for democratic reforms, constitutionalism and social justice, arguing that the sacrifices made by the former Prime Minister and countless Kenyans must pave the way for a new chapter defined by inclusion, national cohesion and development.

For Jakakimba, the broad-based arrangement is not merely a political partnership but an opportunity to secure the Luo community’s place in national decision-making while advancing the wider interests of the country.

Raila’s legacy meets Ruto’s development agenda

At the centre of Jakakimba’s argument is the belief that Raila’s legacy should be measured not only by the political battles he fought but also by the opportunities his vision can create for future generations.

He called for continued alignment with what he described as the shared dream of Raila and President Ruto: a more equal, united, peaceful and developed Kenya.

Jakakimba also pointed to completed and ongoing national government development projects in Nyanza as evidence of the region’s participation in the national development agenda.

His message is clear: political cooperation must deliver practical results for ordinary citizens, from better infrastructure and economic opportunities to improved public services and greater inclusion in government.

Nyanza must not be left behind

The statement places regional development at the centre of the debate over the future of Luo politics, with Jakakimba insisting that Nyanza must not remain on the margins of Kenya’s economic transformation.

His position challenges leaders and political actors to consider whether returning to confrontational opposition politics would serve the region’s long-term interests or undermine opportunities for development and national participation.

However, the ultimate test of the broad-based arrangement will lie in its ability to deliver measurable benefits to residents, particularly young people, traders, farmers and communities seeking improved livelihoods.

One nation, one Kenya, one people

As the country reflects on Raila’s enduring political legacy, Jakakimba is making a case for continuity through cooperation rather than confrontation.

His message is both political and developmental: that the sacrifices of the past must not be wasted, that Nyanza deserves a meaningful stake in national progress, and that Kenya’s future must be built on unity and shared prosperity.

For Jakakimba, the bottom line is unmistakable: Kenya first, national unity above political division, and Nyanza firmly within the country’s development agenda.