Alai: Ruto is one of the founders of ODM

Kileleshwa Ward Representative Robert Alai has emphasized that there is no issue if President Ruto decides to appoint any ODM member to his cabinet.

Through his X account, Alai stated that those opposing the appointment of ODM members to President Ruto’s cabinet should recall that Ruto is one of the founders of the ODM party.

According to this ODM MCA, Ruto, as one of the founders of ODM nearly 20 years ago, has every right to appoint an ODM member to his cabinet.

Alai strongly opposed some people in the opposition party who are threatening their members to reject government appointments if President Ruto nominates them, claiming that such appointments would not have the blessings of the party leadership.

Alai proposed the nomination of Special MP John Mbadi as the Minister of Finance, saying that Ruto giving an ODM member a job in the government would be a way of expressing gratitude to the party that elevated him in the political arena.

“Ruto is one of the founders of ODM. If he decides to appoint any ODM member to the cabinet, any lazy person in the party claiming to be an executive should not block that appointment. Ruto would also be saying thank you to ODM for being the party that propelled him into political leadership. MP Mbadi can be the CS for Finance!” Alai said.

Alai’s statement comes just hours after ODM Secretary-General and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna issued a letter warning members against accepting any government appointments.

In the letter, Sifuna warned that anyone accepting a government appointment would be doing so on their personal decision and it would not be an official decision with the blessings of the party leaders.

A few hours later, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma harshly criticized Sifuna for the letter, stating that this was not a decision agreed upon in the party’s recent general meeting.