Minister Raila Odinga and Eldoret North Member of Parliament William Ruto clashed bitterly in parliament over the trial of post election violence suspects at the International Criminal Court.
The PM accused Ruto of seeking to gain political mileage by leveling false accusations against him, as Ruto told his former ally to his face that he had no feelings.
NTV’s Richard Chacha reports on the drama and looks back to where the two parted ways as far as the handling of post election violence cases are concerned.
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Raila Odinga and William Ruto have a long history of political clashes in Kenya’s Parliament, often centered around issues of governance, constitutional interpretation, and international justice.
One notable confrontation occurred in February 2012, when Raila, then Prime Minister, and Ruto, a Member of Parliament, engaged in a heated debate over the government’s position on the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases related to the 2007–2008 post-election violence.
Ruto accused Raila of undermining those facing trial at The Hague, while Raila criticized the political exploitation of the ICC process.
In May 2012, the two leaders clashed again over political party hopping. Raila condemned the practice, arguing it undermined Kenya’s democratic institutions, while Ruto defended it as a legitimate exercise of political freedom.
These incidents highlight the deep-seated political rivalry between Raila and Ruto, with each accusing the other of undermining democratic processes and constitutional principles.
Their confrontations in Parliament have often reflected broader national debates on governance, justice, and political accountability.
