President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga met at State House in Mombasa to discuss the recent African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson election, in which Odinga was unsuccessful. President Ruto expressed his commitment to collaborating with Odinga to advance Kenya’s development agenda, emphasizing the importance of a broad-based government that includes both the ruling and opposition parties. He stated, “We need all hands on deck to be able to achieve this mission and vision.”

During the meeting, Odinga thanked President Ruto and the Kenyan government for their support during his AUC campaign. He clarified that he had declared his candidacy before Ruto’s endorsement and refuted claims that the government spent Ksh13 billion on his campaign, describing such figures as “baseless exaggerations.”

Odinga also announced plans to consult with his supporters and party members before making his next political move, stating, “I am going to consult widely and in due course we are going to announce our way forward.”

This meeting marks a significant development in Kenyan politics, suggesting a potential shift towards greater cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties. The discussions between President Ruto and Raila Odinga could pave the way for a more unified approach to addressing the nation’s challenges.