Deputy President William Ruto has accused ODM leader Raila Odinga of orchestrating factional strife within the Jubilee Party, days after Odinga marked the one-year anniversary of his political alliance with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ruto made the allegations during a public address in Kilifi County, where he criticized ODM for fostering internal discord. He specifically cited the expulsion of Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa from the opposition party, noting her public support for his 2022 presidential bid.
"Any claim of national unity must align with actions," Ruto stated. "You cannot profess to unite Kenyans while sowing division. Targeting members of other parties and creating instability is unacceptable." He emphasized that political collaboration with the government should not require external approval.
The dispute follows a rift over a major financial scandal, with Ruto asserting only Sh7 billion in losses from questionable contracts, while investigative bodies estimate Sh21 billion in misallocated funds. Odinga, meanwhile, defended his anti-corruption efforts as targeting systemic graft rather than individuals.
Jumwa, who has appealed her ODM expulsion, reaffirmed her support for Ruto, stating, "He is the only viable option for Kenya's development. I have endured enough for the party's internal struggles." Odinga, addressing Nairobi women leaders, framed his 2018 handshake with Kenyatta as a strategy to preserve political legacies.
