Kalonzo slams Ruto-ODM alliance talks as betrayal of Raila’s legacy
By Kenneth Mwenda, January 17, 2026Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has criticised President William Ruto’s growing cooperation with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), calling it a betrayal of the late Raila Odinga’s political legacy.
In a post shared on X on Saturday, January 17, 2026, Musyoka questioned how ODM could align itself with Ruto after years of public hostility between the two camps. He accused the alliance of ignoring history and weakening Kenya’s democratic struggle.
“You cannot rewrite history, and you cannot sanitise betrayal,” Musyoka wrote. He recalled past remarks made by Ruto and his allies against Raila, including calling him “mganga”, referring to him as “ule mtu wa vitendawili”, and vowing to politically sideline him with the phrase“tutamsafirisha hadi Bondo”.
Musyoka said it was dishonest for ODM leaders to now claim they share a common vision with Ruto.
“Yet today, some want us to believe that William Ruto and ODM share a ‘common vision’,” he added.
The remarks come amid shifting political alliances that began while Raila Odinga was still alive. On March 7, 2025, President William Ruto and Raila signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their parties, UDA and ODM.
The deal created a broad-based government framework, brought senior ODM figures into cabinet positions, and promoted joint policy programmes, especially on economic reforms and national unity.
Raila, who died on October 15, 2025, defended the pact at the time as a step to address youth unemployment, strengthen devolution, and heal divisions after the disputed 2022 elections. He described it as putting Kenya first, not as a full coalition but as cooperation to tackle pressing issues.
On January 12, 2026, ODM’s Central Management Committee resolved to initiate structured pre-election negotiations with various political formations, starting with UDA.
On January 14, UDA’s National Executive Committee, chaired by President Ruto, mandated him to establish mechanisms for structured engagement with ODM to strengthen the partnership and negotiate a coalition agreement ahead of the 2027 elections. The party cited ongoing cooperation, including mutual support in recent by-elections.
Raila’s ideals betrayed
Musyoka said the partnership betrays Raila’s lifelong struggle for justice and democracy.
“Every Kenyan knows what Raila stood for,” Musyoka wrote. “Justice. Fairness. Dignity of paychecks. Democracy that protects the people, not power that preys on them.”
He accused the current administration of acting against those values. He cited looting of public funds, plans to sell state assets such as Safaricom and the Kenya Ports Authority, attempts to dispose of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, police violence against young protesters, and intimidation of dissenting leaders.
Musyoka linked these actions to broader democratic decline, especially as Kenya faces rising living costs and high youth unemployment. Protests held last year ended in violent confrontations with security forces, drawing criticism from rights groups and international observers.
“How can there be a common vision when Raila and I fought for democracy, and this regime is determined to dismantle it piece by piece?” Musyoka asked.
As leader of the Wiper, Musyoka has positioned himself as a leading opposition figure. He and Raila were among the leaders of the Azimio la Umoja coalition during the 2022 elections, where they challenged Ruto.