Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has finally accepted President William Ruto’s legitimacy as the country’s fifth Head of State, marking a significant change of tune.
Raila made the decision hours after meeting both Ruto and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Uganda on Monday, February 26. Indeed, Raila Odinga finally acknowledged Ruto in a formal capacity.
In a change of tune, Raila who has always referred to the Head of State as ‘Mr Ruto’, called him by his official title ‘President Ruto’.
The Azimio la Umoja leader did not call him ‘President Ruto’ once. His avid supporters would argue it was a slip of the tongue. However, he did it more than once, indicating a definitive change of tune: Raila Odinga finally acknowledges.
Raila’s acceptance of Ruto’s Presidency was also printed conspicuously in a statement he published after meeting Museveni.
“Several days ago, I accepted an invitation from President Kaguta Museveni of Uganda for a joint meeting with President William Ruto today to discuss the deepening of regional integration within the East African Community,” his statement read in part.
“Crucially, at the urging of President Museveni, we also discussed my candidacy for Chairperson of the African Union Commission. I am very grateful to President Museveni for strongly endorsing my candidacy. Moreover, President Ruto fully backed it,” he added, illustrating Odinga has indeed changed his tune.
Raila had earlier announced that he would not recognise Ruto’s presidency, claiming he is in office illegally.
Raila also demanded that the Kenya Kwanza government resign. He argued it had neither the mandate of the people nor the ability to govern.
“We as Azimio reject the 2022 election results,” he said. “We cannot and will not recognise the Kenya Kwanza regime. We consider the Kenya Kwanza government illegitimate. We don’t recognise Mr William Ruto as President of Kenya, and we equally don’t recognise any officials in the office with him.”
But with the bigger ambition in sight, Raila has decided to toe the line to win Ruto’s support. This is part of his bid to become the next African Union Commission Chairperson. This illustrates a change of tune on Raila’s part.
After openly recognising and accepting Ruto’s Presidency, the Head of State also vowed to popularise his AUC candidature.
By Jerry Njomo
Source-https://www.nairobileo.co.ke/
