When President William Ruto extended the olive branch to form a broad-based government, many Kenyans dared to hope.

After months of protests, civil unrest, and an economy teetering under pressure, the promise of inclusivity seemed like a breath of fresh air. Yet months later, the air is once again thick with tear gas, cries of injustice, and the stench of state impunity.

The broad-based government, in its current form, risks becoming nothing more than a cosmetic arrangement, a political pact aimed at silencing opposition rather than delivering reform. Illegal arrests, police brutality, and the use of state machinery to suppress dissent have not ceased. If anything, they have continued with a more brazen sense of entitlement, as though the handshake has legitimised repression.

ODM leader Raila Odinga must now step up and draw the line. Kenyans did not endure years of struggle and sacrifice for this moment to be reduced to boardroom deals and power-sharing charades. Broad-based governance must be more than just token appointments and redistributed tenders.

It must mean structural accountability, a demilitarised police force, economic reforms that reach the grassroots, and justice that is not selective or delayed.

Yes, the president has appointed a few from the opposition ranks and shown gestures of inclusion. But that is not enough. Youth unemployment remains unaddressed. Millions of young Kenyans continue to wake up to despair, holding degrees in hand, with their futures on hold. What use is a government of national unity if it cannot confront the national crisis of joblessness?

This is not just about political balance; it is about moral responsibility. Raila Odinga’s legacy is built on the foundations of resistance to authoritarianism and the fight for equity. Now, as a key player in this so-called inclusive government, he must ensure that inclusivity is not just about who sits at the table, but what is served to the people.

It is time for Raila to push back against the drift toward autocracy, to demand that the spirit of the agreement be honoured not in press statements but in practice. Vested interests cannot be allowed to hijack the promise of reform. The people did not fight for a seat at the table, they fought for transformation.

If the broad-based government is to mean anything, it must be felt in the streets, in the courts, in police conduct, in youth employment programs, and everyday governance. Anything less is betrayal.