Those saying wantam, so what? It’s Kenyans who will decide – Raila

President William Ruto with Opposition leader Raila Odinga in Karachuonyo on Friday. /PCS

ODM leader Raila Odinga has hit back at critics of his political pact with President William Ruto, saying the ultimate judgment on the deal will rest with Kenyans in 2027.

Speaking during the burial of renowned author Phoebe Asiyo on Friday, Raila urged “naysayers” to give the broad-based government arrangement time to deliver results instead of dismissing it prematurely.

“To the naysayers, give us space, give us room, and judge us in 2027,” Raila said. “This is going to remain in place until then. After that, we will know how to proceed.”

He took aim at those mocking the arrangement, using the colloquial phrase “wantam”  to dismiss their concerns.

“To the (people) who say wantam, wantam, so what? Kenyans will decide the terms,” he said.

“I am confident that when that time comes, we will face Kenyans and tell them this is what we want and where we want to go. I am not afraid.”

Raila also called for restraint by security forces, urging them to respect the rights of citizens even in tense political moments.

“Do not shoot to kill. Do not shoot to maim. Arrest and charge them,” he said, stressing the importance of upholding human rights.

He revealed that he and President Ruto’s team had reviewed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) underpinning their political cooperation and agreed on concrete measures to address past grievances.

“Those who have been injured and maimed, those who have died from 2017 — their families are going to be compensated,” Raila announced. “We have structured how to ensure that the MOU is implemented in full.”

To fast-track implementation, Raila said a joint parliamentary session would be convened to push through agreed reforms next week.

“We will have a joint parliamentary meeting to ensure our MPs implement what we have agreed on,” he said.

Raila and Ruto began working together on March 8, 2025, to confront the socio-economic and political challenges facing the country. Then, the leaders said the country holds great potential, but its progress had been held back by the shackles of ethnicity and state policies that exclude parts of the country from national development.

In a joint Kenya Kwanza-ODM Framework agreement signed at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the two leaders said:“For Kenya to realise its full potential, we must discard old superficial rivalries and embrace a unifying vision.”

“We acknowledge that divergent and even conflicting ideas are the revving engine of a vibrant democracy; they sharpen a better vision for our country.”