Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has questioned the motive behind Raila Odinga’s recent support for national dialogue, suggesting that the former Prime Minister could be pushing President Ruto’s agenda.

Nyutu says that if not so, Raila could be reacting to mounting pressure from the public, particularly from youth who are refusing to let go of their demands for justice, reform, and accountability.

Speaking during an interview at a local TV station on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, Senator Nyutu noted that the sudden shift in Raila’s tone towards intergenerational dialogue may not be as organic as it appears. He said the call could be interpreted in one of two ways—either Raila is aligning with President Ruto’s vision for structured national talks, or he has begun to feel the ground shifting beneath him, especially within his traditional support base in Luo Nyanza.

“Dialogue, intergenerational dialogue, could be informed by either of these two realities. One, he could be presenting Ruto’s idea, or two, he could have started feeling the heat on the ground,” Senator Nyutu said.

The Murang’a legislator went on to claim that even in Raila Odinga’s own backyard, the ordinary citizen no longer supports the concept of a broad-based government—an idea previously championed by Raila and a few other national figures.

“I tell you that the common man, even in Luo Nyanza, where even the bedrocks support Raila Amolo Odinga, does not support broad-based government. It is the leaders only who do,” he added.

Senator Nyutu explained that ordinary Kenyans, including those in Raila’s strongholds, are now openly expressing discontent with political posturing and are calling instead for concrete change.

He said that people from all corners of the country—including Raila’s loyal base—are suffering the same economic hardships and frustrations as everyone else, and this reality is beginning to shift public opinion.

“These people talk to us, and they say it. Because the people are suffering, and they are feeling the heat that everyone else is feeling,” he noted.

According to the Senator, Raila’s call for dialogue could be a tactical response to the growing grassroots resistance led by youth who have made it clear that they are not ready to abandon their push for accountability and justice.

“So probably Raila Odinga has felt the heat on the ground, that the youth are not ready to give up on their push for their rights, and therefore maybe that is what he is responding to,” he said.

Youth dialogue

Senator Nyutu reiterated the importance of involving young people meaningfully in any national conversation, stating that their grievances are already well known by anyone who has lived in Kenya long enough to witness their struggles.

However, he emphasised that the process must involve sincere listening and inclusive representation.

“I think—and we said it last week—that it is important to have talks with the youth. It is true that their issues are known by anybody who has been living in this country, but I think if we could be able to come onto a table—a table where the greatest representation is the youth—because they have more shares than those of us who were born way before them,” he said.