Kabando to Raila: You owe us the truth on 'Ruto meeting'

By Peter Ochieng

Former Mukurweini Member of Parliament (MP) Kabando Wa Kabando has called on Azimio leader Raila Odinga to 'come out clean' over claims that he met president William Ruto weeks back.

Odinga allegedly met the president in Mombasa in July, during anti government protests against the high cost of living.

Kabando is among key Mt. Kenya leaders who supported Odinga's 2022 presidential bid.

The former legislature says politicians in Azimio know how Odinga lost to Ruto, urging the former Prime Minister to come clean over allegations of secretly meeting the Head of State.

"Dear Rt.Hon.Raila Odinga: Now, on 2022 presidential election, you & we know why, how, we regrettably, lost to Rais Ruto. You say you haven't met Ruto yet. Ruto's office PS says you met Ruto at midnight secretly in Mombasa. You owe us the truth. We don't want another BBI fraud," he wrote in a post on X.

Odinga has previously denied meeting Ruto.

However, some key figures in Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration, among them Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula insist that the two leaders met.

Speaking in Migori county yesterday, Wetang'ula said that if Raila can meet Ruto over development issues, then ODM MPs have an equal right to do so.

“If it is good for the party leader of a certain party to go to Mombasa and talk to the president about the welfare of the people of Kenya, then what is wrong if Nyamita goes to see the president to talk about Uriri?” paused the Speaker.

Kabando feels that a meeting between the president and the opposition leader, may lead to another attempt to amend the constitution, through a Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) game plan that flopped during retired president Uhuru Kenyatta's time in office.

"Kenya's problem is the curse of corruption/impunity - thefts of resources, abuse of office, state capture, nepotism, tribalism, fraud, deception. Main leadership problem is trust deficiency. I opposed BBI when I realised it was a fraud, a deception. Is Bomas another deception."

Odinga is pushing for audit of the 2022 presidential election results.