Saitabao Ole Kanchory: Raila did not leave ODM in govt
By Mabonga Makhanu, December 9, 2025Lawyer and political analyst Saitabao Ole Kanchory has reiterated that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga never joined President William Ruto’s broad-based government, insisting that only four Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) experts were incorporated into the administration.
Speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Kanchory dismissed claims that Raila abandoned ODM to work with the government.
He maintained that Raila personally kept his distance and only allowed four of his foot soldiers – Mining and Blue Economy CS Hassan Joho, Cooperatives and SMEs CS Wycliffe Oparanya, Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, and Finance CS John Mbadi – to take up roles in the Ruto government.
“Raila Odinga never joined the broad-based govt himself; he made it clear that he has donated 4 experts to Ruto,” he said.
Kanchory challenged those claiming Raila joined the government to provide evidence showing he ever encouraged his supporters to support or join the administration.
“Raila did not leave ODM in government; he did not. He only left the 4 experts. I can challenge you to look for any place where Raila told his supporters to join the broad-based government.”
He emphasised that Raila’s only public statement on the matter was that ODM would support President Ruto in stabilising the country until 2027, a gesture he argued was not equivalent to joining the government.
Kanchory further claimed that shortly after the appointment of the four experts, Raila even appeared to disown the move. He likened the situation to “a girl who wants to get married and, before being stopped, jumps into the marriage.”
According to Kanchory, Raila distanced himself because he understood the unpopularity of the current regime and the political consequences that would have fallen on him had he openly supported it.
These come days after Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka came out to give his view on how the 4 experts entered President William Ruto’s administration.
Ruto reaching out to four experts
In a past interview with a local podcast, Kalonzo stated that the 4 experts were first approached individually by the president and not through the late ODM leader
According to Kalonzo, it was after he separately approached the 4 so-called experts that he decided to finally inform Raila of it
“By the way, these so-called experts pushed Raila. Raila wanted to negotiate on behalf of Azimio; he didn’t want to leave Azimio, but these guys had gone,” he stated.
“Ruto approached them separately, na wakakubali, so Raila’s hands were tied. Raila has a choice of disagreeing with these 4 people and staying with us.”