Raila credits ODM experts for coming out with widely accepted 2025 budget
By Luke Oluoch, September 22, 2025Orange Democratic Movement Leader Raila Odinga has praised the performance of his party members in the broad-based government, hailing their role as crucial in formulating the 2025 budget, he says, was people-friendly
Speaking on Monday, September 22, 2025, in Machakos during the Parliamentary Group meeting, Raila heaped praises on Treasury CS John Mbadi, who has been part of ODM’s experts in government following the signing of the agreement pact between UDA and ODM in March 2025.
Raila asserted that ODM’s recent move to join the government had similarly witnessed key milestones of making compromises and ushering in development.
“Today, we see the early fruits of cooperating political parties. We have come out with a widely accepted 2025 budget thanks to the experts in government like CS Mbadi,” he stated.
The ODM supremo further stated that the 2008 grand coalition has outperformed the NARC government of 2022.
His sentiments come after TIFA reported that support for the Ruto-Raila broad-based government had increased by 7 per cent.
Lost to tribal lords
“History indicates that each time leaders of this country come together, great things happen. We got the 2010 constitution to compromise with Moi. We achieved more under the grand coalition government than under the NARC regime. The NARC regime swept to power on a wave of popularity but quickly lost influence and plot to tribal demagogues,” he stated.
Raila made the remarks while noting the tremendous achievement ODM had achieved since entering into a pact with William Ruto’s UDA.
He, however, admitted that much remains to be done in establishing a responsive government that meets the needs of Kenyans.
“We are not yet out of the woods, but we are at a better place than we were in 2-23 or 2024. Much work remains to be done in pursuit of a proper and stable country that delivers for its citizens,” he stated.
The ODM supremo also cautioned politicians against perpetuating the politics of populism, terming it as transient.
Apart from the former Prime Minister, former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri has also urged politicians to end divisive and insightful politics.
“In times like this, it is possible to be lost in a populist campaign and forget that leading may result to booing instead of cheers. I have been there, I have been cheered and booed,” he stated.
“My appeal to you is that you should never feel powerless as populists around you are seeking popularity at the expense of leadership,” he stated