President William Ruto said he is one of the founder members of the Orange Democratic Movement [ODM] adding that he has no apologies to make to anyone in the country for being so.
He said it is an historic fact that he had served under the departed party leader Raila Odinga.
“I have been at the centre in the formation of the party during the yesteryears,” he said.
President Ruto said the late retired President Daniel arap Moi and Raila are his political mentors who influenced his political journey.
He was speaking during ODM Founders’ Dinner held at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa Mombasa – Beach Hotel in Mombasa county.
The head of state said he was elected member of parliament on a Kanu ticket despite being under difficult times.
President Ruto, who was flanked by Kanu’s first party national chairman Henry Kosgey and former first senator for Busia County Amos Wako acknowledge that he had not been in good terms with the late head of state but they finally became friends.
He said he had encouraged him in his political career and he had at one time attended his installation as a Kalenjin elder in Eldoret township.
“I was one of Raila’s political students before we parted ways in the country’s political scene,” he pointed out.
ODM party leader Oburu Odinga said despite being the current leader of the party he is one of the party founders.
He said he has a brief history on how the party was started adding that the head of state is also fully aware of party’s journey towards the marking of its 20th anniversary one month after the death of his younger brother.
“ODM was formed out of the country’s political struggle and not during luxurious times,” he said.
The ODM party leader said there is no political party that is formed to be in the opposition arguing that all political parties are formed to form the next government.
He said the party is gearing up to be in the next government ahead of the 2027 polls.
“Our mission is to be In the government after the 2027 polls,” he said.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said ODM has come of age and it is not a toddler.
He said the late Raila was on the forefront in the fight for change of the constitution to shift from a parliamentary to the presidential system and to a devolved system.
“That’s how the devolution came to be in the 2010 constitution,” he added.
ODM National chairperson Gladys Atieno Wanga revealed the party has been built under partnership arrangements to ensure its existence within the political arena.
She vowed the party will continue to built on its partnership ideology with like-minded people in the coming years.
“We shall not walk alone towards the 2027 general election,” she pointed out.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed confirmed that the 10 point agenda which was agreed between President William Ruto and the departed ODM party leader Raila Odinga was towards the implementation of a 50 percent share.
He urged the head of state to ensure the remaining 50 per cent is implemented soonest.
“It is a fact that the late Raila left ODM in a broad based government and he had resolved for it to remain in the government,” he said.
