Raila Odinga Jr., son of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has publicly hinted at his disapproval of his father’s recent political actions following a joint press conference with President William Ruto.
In a succinct and pointed statement shared online, Raila Jr. emphasized his individuality, urging the public to respect his distinct personality despite sharing both his name and lineage with his father.
“Everybody is an individual, please! Even people with the same exact names,” Raila Jr. asserted, making it clear that he should not be conflated with his father’s political legacy and decisions.
This statement is one of the few public communications Raila Jr. has made since the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests began just over two weeks ago.
His remarks come amidst significant criticism directed at Raila Odinga Sr. for his recent alignment with some of President Ruto’s decisions.
The controversy heightened after President Ruto signed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Amendment Act of 2024 into law.
Following the signing, Raila Odinga Sr. and President Ruto held a joint press conference at the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC), accompanied by their political allies.During the conference, Raila Sr. expressed his support for President Ruto’s initiative to establish a multi-sectoral forum aimed at addressing the concerns raised by anti-government protesters.
“I can confirm that we have had consultations and after the consultations, we have agreed that a dialogue is the way forward out of the crisis that we have had as a country,” Raila Sr. stated.
He further elaborated, “We have agreed we give people an opportunity to be heard, express themselves and come out with the grievances that are ailing our country today so that a lasting solution can be found.”
Following this announcement, Raila Odinga Sr. became a trending topic on social media platform X, with many users debating the implications of the dialogue.
Critics argued that the dialogue seemed more about the political survival of the attendees than the country’s welfare.
“The dialogue is between two individuals: William Ruto and Raila Odinga. We refuse to be controlled by selfish politicians who only value their stomachs. Gen Zs and Millennials are now taking the bull by the horns,” lamented Cornelius Ronoh.
Another critic added, “We told Raila Odinga to rest and let us handle our own matter. We are not going to dialogue with President William Ruto. We know how it ends, and Baba is a clear example of how dialogue never works!”
Despite the backlash, several leaders supported the proposed dialogue and the six-day forum suggested by President Ruto, viewing it as a potential pathway to chart a positive direction for the nation.
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