Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leaders in Kilifi County have given opposition Chief Raila Odinga the greenlight to work with President William Ruto in the Broad-based Government.

Led by Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro, the grassroots leaders said they had resolved to let Odinga to join hands with the president to implement the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report and address social and economic issues affecting Kenyans.

“We as leaders in Kilifi have agreed to allow Baba to continue with the issues in the NADCO report and support the party’s leaders in other counties that he has already consulted,” he said.

“Even if we stay away from the government, we shall still be blamed if things go wrong. It is better to rectify what is wrong from inside the government. That is why we have given Baba (Raila’s nickname) the power to continue representing us, and we know he will represent us well,” the governor said.

Odinga is currently on a country-wide tour holding consultations with grassroots leaders ahead of a highly anticipated “major announcement” on his and the country’s political future. He is already in a broad-based arrangement with the President in which some key party leaders are serving as cabinet secretaries.

Odinga said he had embarked on consultative meetings to get the thoughts of grassroots people and to appraise himself of the problems facing Kenyans and the solutions to those problems.

He said during the meeting, the leaders had told him that area residents were affected by the high cost of living, high taxation and the problems within the health sector due to the challenges faced by the Social Health Authority.

The former prime minister said the leaders had also expressed concern over the late disbursements of funds to devolved units, poor infrastructure and the implementation of projects such as the building of markets and affordable houses.

“The most important thing is that the leaders want our party, ODM, to be made stronger as the country approaches the 2027 general election.

He also addressed the issues of abductions, enforced disappearances, torture and killing of victims, which he said were unacceptable and that he would ensure they come to an end.

Notable ODM leaders present included Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule, County Chairman Teddy Mwambire (also speaker of the Kilifi County Assembly), Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu and Kaloleni Member of Parliament Paul Katana among others.

• A Tell / KNA report / By Emmanuel Masha