Raila: Kenya has capacity to transition to a first-world country
By Luke Oluoch, August 8, 2025Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Leader Raila Odinga has expressed optimism about Kenya’s ability to replicate the economic leap made by its peers and transition to become a first-world nation.
Speaking during the burial of the late Phoebe Asiyo in Homa Bay County on Friday, August 8, 2025, Raila decried how countries such as Vietnam and Korea had leapt to become financial and economic giants as Kenya lagged.
“Kenya is a great country with the ability to take off and achieve first-world status. There is no reason why we cannot move the way our equivalence has done. We can do it if we create an enabling environment for Kenyans to thrive,” he stated.
Korea, and Vietnam
“Kenyans can excel. I have seen Kenyans excel elsewhere, and I have seen countries much poorer than Kenya transition and become first world. Korea is one. Vietnam was bombarded by America for years, and nobody believed people would live there. Today, Vietnam’s economy is up there; its energy consumption is 70,000 megawatts, way above Kenya’s 3500. Many things can be done with proper planning in the country to see Kenya take off,” he observed.
In achieving the objective, Raila, who stated that his calls are borne out of his love for the nation as a patriot, termed the flagship projects, such as Vision 2030, as crucial to realising its economic potential.
“There are many things that can be done, and Kenya can take off, Mr. President. We have Vision 2030, but it’s not being followed up well. We have the National Economic and Social Council so that those flagships are revived and move forward. This will help us as a country,” he added.
On a political note, Raila implored Kenyans to grant the government ample time to deliver on its mandate under the broad-based government, which he says he fully backs.
“I wish to urge the broad-based government’s detractors to grant us the room we require and to reserve their verdicts for 2027. We have made it clear that this broad-based government will remain in place until the 2027 elections, after which we shall chart the path forward,” Raila declared with conviction.
He underscored that it is the sovereign will of the Kenyan people that will ultimately determine the duration of any leader’s tenure, expressing unwavering confidence that when the time comes, the government will stand before the electorate with transparency, laying bare its achievements and future aspirations.
Raila then likened the ‘Wantam’ chants to the ineffectual croaking of a frog which cannot prevent a cow from drinking water.
“It is Kenyans who will determine the terms, and we shall see where we choose to proceed. Such noise, this ‘Wantam’ clamour, resembles the croaking of a frog; it cannot stop the cow from drinking water. The cow will drink, and we shall certainly move beyond 2027. I hold no doubt about this,” he asserted.