Ruto has implemented five of 10-point agenda drafted with Raila, says ODM

ODM leaders on Thursday praised President William Ruto for commendable progress in implementing the ten—point performance agenda he signed with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The brigade led by acting party leader Oburu Oginga said nearly half of the 10-point agenda agreed with the government had already been achieved.

They spoke during Raila’s memorial service in Awendo, Migori county.

President William Ruto signed the ten-point agenda with Raila in March this year at KICC.

ODM has been using its implementation as a ‘condition’ to supporting Ruto’s 2027 re-election.

National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed said the implementation of the five out of 10 items is a sign of goodwill and commitment from the President.

“As a minority leader, I can say at least five out of the ten-point agenda have been implemented,” he said.

The Suna East MP expressed confidence that it is just a matter of time before the remaining five are implemented.

“We have five (items) pending, we want the broad-based government to fulfill the five so that he (Ruto) will get a smooth ride in 2027,” Junet said.

The ten items signed by Ruto and Raila include implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) report, inclusivity, strengthening of devolution, economic investment in the youth and leadership, integrity and end of opulence.

The two leaders also committed to uphold the right to peaceful assembly, audit of national debt, fight against corruption, stopping wastage of public resources and protection of the sovereignty of the people, stopping abductions and respect for constitutionalism and rule of law.

In August, Ruto and Raila unveiled a five-member MoU implementation committee chaired by Agnes Zani deputised by Javas Bigambo and had Fatuma Ibrahim, Kevin Kiarie and Gabriel Oguda as members.

The Zani-led committee is yet to issue publicly any report on the implementation status of the 10-point agenda.

But in Migori, the ODM chiefs cited reforms in devolution funding, reduced cases of abductions and enhanced inclusivity in public appointments as already achieved.

“On devolution we have agreed to increase the allocation in the next budget, inclusivity this broad-based has all tribes in this country, the government has also implemented human rights and constitutionalism and that is why since we signed the MoU there are no abductions,” Junet said

The Suna East MP said compensation for victims of police brutality would have been a thing in the past had the courts not stopped the process.

He urged the courts to consider expediting the case so that Kenyans who suffered during protests get their rights.

“I appeal to courts to expedite the case so that the victims of police brutality can get compensated,” Junet said.

He expressed confidence that the remaining issues would be fulfilled in due course.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga while appealing for speedy conclusion of the case blocking compensation accused ‘rogue’ elements of using the legal process to delay implementation of the Ruto-Raila deal.

 “There are some rogue elements who don’t want compensation of victims to block the process, I urge the courts to expedite the case so that our people can get compensated,” she said.

She said Ruto has showed goodwill in implementing the agreement he signed with Raila.

“The MoU had 10-point agenda which had a priority issue of inclusivity, when appointments were made for principal secretaries, we saw people being named from all parts of the country and that is inclusivity,” Wanga added.

The leaders were speaking at South Nyanza Sugar Sugar company grounds in Awendo, Migori county where during a memorial service for the late Raila Odinga.

The meeting was presided over by acting party leader Oburu Oginga and attended a number of elected leaders from the region.

The leaders also dismissed calls by some party insiders to pull out of the broad-based government, describing such sentiments as misguided and politically reckless.

“It is better to deal with the devil you know that the angel you have never seen,” Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko said.

“Those who imagine that we will go our separate ways because Raila is dead and our broad based arrangement will die, I want to tell you that as a people we will stand united in honour of Baba,” added Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma.