Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has asked Kenyan youths to re-think their political decisions ahead of the August polls.

Speaking on Monday, January 3, Raila urged the youth to seek better employment opportunities in an obvious attack against Deputy President William Ruto’s Hustler and Wheelbarrow narrative.

“Tunasema wale vijana wetu ambao walimaliza masomo wapewe kazi ya maana ambayo itaweka pesa kwa tumbo yao. Kazi ya kusukuma wheelbarrow sio kazi muhimu, munataka kusukuma wheelbarrow?” Raila asked.

The ODM leader was speaking at the burial of Julia Nabwera at Mautuma Constituency in Lugari, Kakamega County.

Raila’s statement comes just days after he was endorsed for the country’s top seat by Western Kenya MPs and leaders at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega on Friday, December 31.

During the Azimio la Umoja event, a list of MPs defected to ODM from Amani National Congress (ANC), FORD Kenya and other parties ahead of the August polls.

Notably, Raila welcomed nominated MP and ANC’s Secretary-General Godfrey Osotsi into the fold who said he made the decision to decamp from Mudavadi’s side even after he helped form the party.

“Mimi ndio nilianzisha hicho chama ya ANC, lakini kwasababu iko na ujinga mwingi mimi nikaamua kufanya kazi na baba na nimekuwa nikicheza mpira na baba kando, lakini kuanzia leo mimi nataka kucheza kwa team ya baba,” Osotsi said.

Teso North MP Oku Kaunya also of ANC moved to ODM together with Navokholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe of Jubilee.