Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance party leader Raila Odinga has opened up on the discussion he had with President William Ruto before the latter nominated several opposition leaders to serve in his cabinet.
Speaking at an event in Siaya County on Saturday, July 27, Odinga shared that he held talks with the President shortly after the cabinet was dissolved in which the role of each side was agreed.
The former Prime Minister stated that they agreed that the opposition would suggest names for Ruto to consider for his cabinet.
The opposition was to present the names after a national dialogue had been held and an agreement on the way forward signed.
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According to Raila, President Ruto pushed back noting that there was a country to run and a cabinet needed to be in place and as such he positions could not remain vacant for long.
Raila on Ruto by-passing him &ODM in nominating opposition members to cabinet
Raila Odinga has detailed talks he had a discussion with President William Ruto over the nominations to the Cabinet.
"I told Ruto the other day that since he had fired his Cabinet, he needed to put his people and that we would submit our recommendations after we have had the national dialogue.
"However, he told me that he wanted to be fast with the nominations as the positions could not remain vacant. So he told me that he would place his own people and then we would talk later.” Raila recounted.
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According to Raila, Ruto bypassed him and nominated several members of ODM to his cabinet without the involvement of the opposition.
Raila cautions Ruto not to blame ODM should cabinet nominees fail to deliver
He cautioned the President not to blame him or the ODM should those nominated fail to deliver in their respective dockets.
"Afterwards, he picked some of our people (from ODM). I then told him that he should not say that we are the ones who gave him the names should they fail to deliver.
"We have released them. We do not have a coalition agreement with the government," Raila remarked.
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He further clarified that the ODM party does not have any agreement with the government and those appointed those nominated to the cabinet will be acting as individuals and not on behalf of the party.
President Ruto settled on nominated MP John Mbadi (Treasury), former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (Mining), Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives) and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi (Energy) to be vetted for his cabinet.