Uncategorized

‘A Hero for the Ages’: President Ruto Defends Pact with Raila Odinga

President William Ruto yesterday once again defended his pact with the late Raila Odinga, hitting out at critics of his broad-based allaince with the former Premier at the height of political instability in 2024. In his national address during the 2025 Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui on Monday, President Ruto said that Odinga prioritized the nation’s interests and stability over his own. “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,” Ruto said, Describing the ODM party leader as selfless, the President censured critics of the broadbased pact and challenged them to take lessons from Raila Odinga. “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 at the same time said all Kenyan leaders should emulate Odinga’s selflessness and personal sacrifices for the common good. “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.” Consequently, Ruto conferred Odinga the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H), the highest honour in Kenya. The award recognizes Odinga for his exemplified dedication to democracy and Pan-Africanism. “The truth is that there will forever be only one Raila Amolo Odinga: A singular spirit, a towering patriot, a hero for the ages,” Ruto stated. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Telegram

admin October 21, 2025 2 min read

In his national address during the 2025 Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kitui on Monday, President Ruto said that Odinga prioritized the nation’s interests and stability over his own.

“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,” Ruto said,

Describing the ODM party leader as selfless, the President censured critics of the broadbased pact and challenged them to take lessons from Raila Odinga.

“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 at the same time said all Kenyan leaders should emulate Odinga’s selflessness and personal sacrifices for the common good.

“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.”

Consequently, Ruto conferred Odinga the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H), the highest honour in Kenya. The award recognizes Odinga for his exemplified dedication to democracy and Pan-Africanism.

“The truth is that there will forever be only one Raila Amolo Odinga: A singular spirit, a towering patriot, a hero for the ages,” Ruto stated.