President William Ruto and the ODM Party leader who is also former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Friday signed a political agreement to work together.
The signed pact between President Ruto’s ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party and Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was officially signed at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) Nairobi.
The two party leaders appended their signatures to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as they were flanked by their respective party officials.
ODM National Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga lauded the new partnership, saying that the move was timely and a sign of putting national interest above others.
She said the unity, stability and prosperity of this country is not the responsibility of a few but the responsibility of all as a nation. She added as it may be true that Kenyas may have different political persuasions, and come from different parts of the country and different schools of thought, nobody can fault unity and that nobody should fault equity.
Her UDA counterpart and Embu County Governor Cecily Mbarire echoed the remarks by lauding the transparency of the process and the contents of the MoU.
The Embu County Chief went ahead to commend President Ruto and Raila for putting aside their differences and hardline stances for the betterment of the nation.
“Today, we’re reminded yet again that the nation will always remain bigger than individual and party interests. I am happy that today, after rumors in the media, we’re not signing an agreement behind closed doors in some private space,” she said.
“I’m also happy that it has taken serious consultations through the party structures to get to where we are. I’m also happy that we have not signed a document which remains a secret to the people who we represent and who matter most. Today, Kenyans know what we have signed up for.”
10 key highlights in the UDA and ODM pact deal that was signed by President Ruto and Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga at KICC, Nairobi. include:
Full implementation of the NADCO Report
Inclusivity in all public life
Protecting and strengthening devolution
Promoting and protecting the livelihoods of young people
Leadership and Integrity
Right to peaceful assembly and protest
National debt
Fight against corruption
Stopping wastage of public resources and promoting the government. efficiency
Protecting the Sovereignty of the people, the rule of law and constitutionalism
