Two days after President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila
Odinga signed a memorandum of understanding that will see their parties work
together, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya has come out to criticize it.
Gakuya, allied with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua,
described the move by the two leaders as a personal
arrangement driven by their interests rather than the welfare of Kenyans.
He called out Raila for choosing to work with the government, saying the pact seeks to weaken the opposition.
“Raila has forgotten how to fight for Kenyans, you cannot
fight for Kenyans when you are in bed with the government. He opted to work
with President Ruto for his personal gains,” the lawmaker stated.
He insisted that the deal is not for Kenyans, claiming that
the country will not get substantial benefit out of it.
“The cooperation pact between President Ruto and Raila is
for UDA and ODM and not for Kenyans; we don’t understand how the country will
benefit from their unity,” he added.
The remarks come even as Ruto insisted that the pact with the former PM was not for personal interests but for the unity and progress of the
country.
He said the framework the two leaders agreed on will focus
on tackling youth unemployment, enhancing national unity, inclusivity in
governance and development, promoting integrity in public service and ending
wastage in government.
“To all the leaders who share in the vision of a united
nation and prosperous Kenya that is inclusive, we must work together,” Ruto
said.
He made the remarks during the funeral service of former
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairperson Wafula Chebukati in
Kiminini, Trans Nzoia County, on Saturday.
The remarks came a day after he signed a pact with Raila that will see ODM and UDA share political infrastructure and, at the same time, work together in addressing various issues facing the nation.
