Ruto slams those who criticized Raila for working with him 'to stabilize the nation'
President William Ruto (R) with former arch-rival and veteran politician Raila Odinga, after they officially signed a political cooperation deal in Nairobi on March 7, 2025.(Photo by AFP)
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Speaking during the 2025 Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui on Monday, President Ruto said that Odinga was a selfless leader who prioritized the nation's interests.
"He understood that leadership is not about personal pride, but about preserving the Republic; not about victory in politics, but about preserving the stability of Kenya," he said.
He further asserted that Odinga was willing to sacrifice his interests and not risk the nation falling into anarchy.
"This is the critical lesson that those who criticised and faulted Baba for working with me to stabilise the nation forget, or refuse to acknowledge, or they just simply don’t care. When some saw the opportunity to bring down their competitors, even if it meant bringing down the country, Baba chose the stability of Kenya."
President Ruto: It was never about Raila becoming president, it was about Kenya having a good president. He believed that Kenya’s best days were still ahead. He endured prison, persecution and political defeat yet never gave in to bitterness or hopelessness pic.twitter.com/YGyolGZnj7
President Ruto added that Odinga's fight for achieving a peaceful nation should be emulated by other Kenyan leaders
"He told us that an imperfect nation striving for perfection is far better than one that is consumed by chaos and anarchy," Ruto noted.
"Baba’s life was an example of always closing ranks for the common good. When our nation faced turbulence last year, for example, and I reached out across the political divide, Baba was the first to come to the table to help steady the ship of state, leading to the formation of the broad-based government that has since stabilised the economy and the nation."
Ruto dedicated the celebrations to Odinga, terming him a hero with no comparison.
"The truth is that there will forever be only one Raila Amolo Odinga: A singular spirit, a towering patriot, a hero for the ages," he noted.
He therefore conferred Odinga the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H), the highest honour in Kenya.
A gazette further intimated that the award recognizes Odinga for his exemplified dedication to democracy and Pan-Africanism.
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