Ruto: Nobody should attempt to replace Raila

President William Ruto has paid tribute to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kisumu, vowing to continue advancing the political and development legacy of the late ODM leader. Speaking at a church service, Ruto described Raila as a nationalist and statesman whose vision transcended ethnic and regional interests. The president highlighted three areas where he believed Raila would be proud of the progress made: the Standard Gauge Railway, jobs created through the affordable housing program, and the preservation of his national legacy.

Ruto recalled that Raila supported the SGR as a signature project during their time together in ODM. He also linked the government's affordable housing program to Raila's earlier push for slum upgrading, stating that the two shared a vision of using housing to create jobs. Ruto emphasized Raila's broader national outlook, noting that he was never a sectionalist or a supporter of tribal politics.

He described Raila as a nationalist and statesman who built a national party and pursued a national agenda. Ruto acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Raila's political influence and called for collective efforts to preserve his ideals. He emphasized that the relationship between Raila's ODM party and his UDA party is one of partnership, not rivalry, under the broad-based government.

Ruto pledged to ensure that Raila's legacy, his party, and his vision continue to guide Kenya's development during his week-long development meet-the-people tour of the Nyanza region.