Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei has hailed Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga over his choices in the most recent changes made by President William Ruto within the ranks of principal secretaries and the country’s foreign services.

In a statement shared via his official X account on Friday, March 21, 2025, Cherargei said that the former prime minister knows how to reward and maintain the loyalty of his people, as demonstrated in the PSs shuffle announced on Thursday, March 20, and in the various changes made in the parliamentary leadership.

“You have to give it to Rt. Odinga that he knows how to reward and maintain the loyalty of his people, as you can see in all appointments in parliament and in government,” Cherargei stated.

Cherargei on Ruto-Raila dalliance

Cherargei went ahead to state that the partnership between Raila and President William Ruto through the now-famous broad-based government is genuine.

According to the lawmaker, Raila has reaped big, going by the number of his loyalists that have found themselves in government as compared to the previous partnerships that he has had with the previous heads of state.

“Unlike the 2018 Uhuru-Raila handshake, which was unfortunately political conmanship, the 2025 Ruto-Raila handshake is genuine and a big plus for Rt. Hon. Odinga, who has reaped big for his loyalists and supporters courtesy of H.E. Ruto’s administration in honouring the working partnership. Baba podpek,” he wrote on X.

Former ODM-nominated Senator Judith Pareno, former Nyeri Deputy Governor Dr. Caroline Karugu, former Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Fredrick Ouma Oluga, Steven Isaboke, and Kilifi County’s head of the Governor’s Delivery Unit and firebrand ODM leader in the coastal region, Fikirini Jacobs, are among the Raila loyalists that landed PS positions in Ruto’s latest changes in government.

Omanga’s take on Raila

Cherargei’s comments come just hours after former nominated senator Millicent Omanga showered praises on Odinga, hailing his steadfast commitment to rewarding loyalty and standing by those who have supported him throughout his political career.

Taking to her official X account on Friday, March 21, 2025, Omanga acknowledged that Odinga has built a formidable political movement over the years by ensuring that those who have stood with him are not forgotten.

According to her, Odinga’s leadership style is defined by his ability to recognise and elevate his loyalists, a rare trait in Kenya’s political landscape.

“One of the most admirable qualities of Baba Raila Odinga is his unwavering commitment to rewarding loyalty and standing by those who have stood with him. Over the years, he has built a formidable political movement, and whenever he gets an opportunity, he ensures that those who have been in the trenches with him are not forgotten,” Omanga said.

“Baba understands that politics is a team effort. His ability to recognise and elevate his loyalists is a trait that sets him apart. Whether it’s appointments, endorsements, or political opportunities, he ensures that those who have sacrificed for the cause are acknowledged and given their due. This approach has not only strengthened his inner circle but has also fostered deep loyalty among his supporters.”