Kibwana calls out Raila over demand for national dialogue
By Mabonga Makhanu, July 9, 2025With former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s recent call for a national conclave drawing divided opinion across the country, former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has added his voice to the ongoing debate.
Kibwana has questioned Raila’s ability to lead Kenya through the current wave of political transformation.
Kivutha, in a strong public statement, compared Raila’s current position to that of a leader who once inspired hope but can no longer guide Kenyans to the future they desire.
He challenged the relevance of Raila’s proposed national dialogue, terming it detached from the realities facing ordinary citizens.
He instead called for a people-centred approach led by a new generation of progressive leaders, stating that the moment calls for bold and inclusive action, not elite negotiations. Kivutha dismissed the idea of conclaves as out of touch and ineffective in addressing the frustrations that have pushed young Kenyans to the streets.
“Once, Raila, you were Baba Moses. Now you can’t deliver us to the Promised Land. You are stuck in Pharaonic Egypt. Let our people go under the new progressive Calebs. Ask the Pope about conclaves. Kenyans want their own People’s National Convention. Not fake dialogues,” Kibwana said.
According to him, the growing discontent in the country cannot be silenced through symbolic meetings. What Kenyans demand is a genuine platform that reflects their voices and aspirations — a national convention driven by the people, not traditional political figures.
Arap Kirwa’s take
This comes moments after former Agriculture Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa also dismissed Raila Odinga’s recent press conference, saying the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader was reading a script that did not reflect his own voice.
Kirwa believes Raila was speaking on behalf of someone else, arguing that the message lacked the conviction and character that have long defined the opposition leader.
Speaking during a podcast on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Kirwa expressed disappointment in what he described as a shift in Raila’s political identity. He stated that the Raila who addressed the nation was not the same leader known for his boldness and consistency as a second liberation icon.
“I strongly believe Raila was reading someone else’s script; that is not the Raila I knew,” Kirwa said.