Embakasi North Member of Parliament James Gakuya has slammed Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga for joining President William Ruto, claiming that the move is only meant to satisfy his needs at the expense of ordinary Kenyans.

Speaking on Sunday, March 10, the MP pointed out that Raila's move to Join the government and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marked the end of his long-held dream of fighting for the rights of Kenyans.

The MP further stressed that the two individuals should be aware that joining forces does not guarantee that Kenyans will back the government.

"In the previous government, he had a deal with President Uhuru Kenyatta and we didn’t elect him. Now he wants to repeat the same thing with Ruto. This coalition is for his benefit—his stomach, not the people,” he said.

Embakasi North James Gakuya at a past function

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"Raila is used to staying in places where there is bread and butter so there is no way you will convince him to get out of there if he was honestly fighting for the rights of Kenyans, has he forgotten that you can't do that if you are in the same side with the government?" he questioned.

The MP further warned that the alliance, which is expected to reinforce the President's political grip, will bear no fruits since the influence of the former Prime Minister has also waned over the years.

"The only person who has a problem is William Ruto because he thinks that if Raila escapes again, he will be left naked but he is still in danger because the Raila that we have now is not the same as we had then, his influence has been going down," he said.

Gakuya further reiterated that the alliance between the two leaders will see major changes in the Parliamentary committees, the ministries, and also ambassadorial positions, efforts which he claims are meant to keep Raila on the government's side.

"Raila has lost his way and he is leading Kenyans there. This new wedding has cost some of us positions in parliamentary committee and this trend will continue to the PSs and also ambassadors, but that's nothing we are used to," he said.

Ruto and Odinga signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, March 7, that will see the ODM and United Democratic Alliance(UDA) parties work together in an alliance that has since faced opposition from several key political figures.

Both leaders emphasised that the agreement was not about forming a new political alliance but rather about fostering cooperative governance to aid the nation's development.

The MoU between Ruto and Odinga outlines a framework for joint consultations on pressing national matters, including the fight against corruption and the implementation of the NADCO report—a consensus document from bipartisan talks at Bomas of Kenya in 2023.

Expressing his dismay over the agreement, Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka, labeled the pact "the biggest betrayal of Kenyans."

On the other hand, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah also voiced strong opposition to the MoU, particularly concerning the implementation of the NADCO report. "Anybody supporting Nadco must be removed from public life. Raila Odinga and William Ruto have declared war on the future of this country," he said.

President William Ruto (left) and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the KICC during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Friday, March 7, 2025.

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