Kuria's Ruto-Raila pact prediction comes true

President William Ruto’s senior economic advisor Moses Kuria's prediction four years ago about Raila Odinga working with Ruto has come to pass.

On Friday, Ruto and the former Prime Minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Orange Democratic Party and the United Democratic Alliance.

The MoU signed is aimed at addressing Kenya's social, economic, and political challenges in 2025.

Kuria, while speaking at a radio station, predicted that the former Prime Minister would join hands with President Ruto.

In a video shared on his X page on Friday, Kuria said Raila would come in to help the president achieve the agenda.

He added that he will support the decision made by the former Prime Minister.

"I have a prediction, Raila Odinga and William Ruto will work together, and there are people who will be left hanging. It will be his last bullet. Raila has always been on the warm side of the opposition, the government, or where it is happening. He has his hand at the pulse of the nation. He knows that Ruto has an unassailable rate," Kuria said.

"The logical thing for Baba, he will say, create for me a space for my political life. I help you as a longtime friend, and the ideas I had, for me, that is something I will encourage."

Ruto and Raila pact follows a series of high-level meetings held across the country as Raila.

During his consultations, Raila reassured his supporters that he remains ready to contribute whenever needed and promised to announce his next political move soon.

Following his failed bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship in Addis Ababa, Raila hinted at a renewed focus on Kenyan politics, stating that he would first consult widely before making any decisions.

Shortly after the AUC loss, Raila took a brief sabbatical in Dubai before returning to Kenya, where he held a closed-door meeting with President Ruto at Mombasa State House.

In the pact, the leaders emphasised that the right to protest is a constitutional right that all Kenyans must be able to enjoy without hindrance.

As part of the agreement, the leaders also pledged to compensate victims of past protests.

“The derogation of rights to peaceful assembly and protests remains one of the most shameful realities on the excesses of Kenya’s law and order responses since independence,” the document read in part.

The efforts to uphold the right, he said, must now involve not just taking responsibility for officers who break the law but also compensation of victims of these derogations, it states.

The National Police Service, it states, must also update its approach to managing demonstrations and public gatherings.

Regarding the national debt, the MOU stipulates that an urgent audit must be conducted to establish how much has been borrowed in the past and how it has been used.

The document stressed the need to slowly address the ballooning of the national debt and ensure accountability on future borrowing.