Nandi senator Samson Cherargei has criticised those Kenyans opposing former prime minister Raila Odinga’s collaboration with President William Ruto. Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has criticised Kenyans predicting the failure of Raila Odinga’s bid for AUC bid.
This came after some Kenyans on X started retweeting the hashtag #RailaMustFall, suggesting that the former prime minister’s bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship would fail. Some Kenyans appeared to suggest that Raila was unfit to lead Africa due to his collaboration with the Kenya Kwanza government in forming a broad-based administration.
What did Cherargei say to Raila’s critics? Responding to the tweets, the outspoken senator took to his X account, suggesting that Raila’s nearly 40 years in opposition make his shift in stance unproblematic. He questioned critics, asking if they expected Raila to remain in opposition forever and urged them to give him a break.
“Kenyans on Twitter should give Raila a break! Where was it written that he should be in opposition politics forever? He has done it for over 40 years,” Cherargei’s statement read. He argued that some Kenyans are upset because Raila is poised to become the next African Union Commission chairperson, describing him as a true Pan-Africanist.
Cherargei stated that opposition leadership is not exclusive to Raila and suggested that others, such as Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, could take on that role. “He is on his way to becoming AUC chairperson because he is a true Pan African and supports the government of H.E. Ruto. That’s the beef the sore losers of 2022 have against him.
Opposition is not a preserve of Tinga; others can do like Kalonzo & et al. it means they are poorly underperforming,” Cherargei added. Did Joho defend Raila’s AUC candidature? Cherargei’s statement comes days after Blue Economy and Mining CS Hassan Joho labelled Kenyans wishing for Raila’s failure in the AUC bid as unpatriotic.
Speaking on Tuesday, December 3, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the DEVKI Iron Processing Project in Manga, Taita Taveta County, Joho questioned why some Kenyans are upset when one of their own vies for a continental position.
by Faith Chandianya
