Kitui, Kenya – October 20, 2025

President William Ruto has offered a rare and heartfelt glimpse into the private thoughts of the late Raila Odinga, describing him as a visionary leader who was deeply troubled by Kenya’s slow pace of progress.

Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Ithookwe Stadium in Kitui County, Ruto recalled candid conversations with Raila — affectionately known as “Baba” — in which the veteran politician often questioned why Kenya had lagged behind its peers.

“He would often wonder why nations like South Korea, Singapore, or Malaysia, which were once at par with Kenya just a few decades ago, had leapt forward to first-world status while we still grapple with the basics,” Ruto said.

The President’s recollection painted a portrait of Raila not as a political rival, but as a restless patriot — one whose passion for Kenya’s growth remained undimmed until his final days.

Conversations Beyond Politics

Ruto said their private discussions were marked by both “passion and frustration” as they reflected on what holds Kenya back.

“We agreed that real leadership is not about the next election, but about the next generation,” Ruto shared. “It must be bold, visionary, and relentlessly focused on the common good.”

He used the national holiday to unveil what he called a renewed drive to fulfil the kind of transformation Raila long envisioned — a Kenya that can compete globally within a generation.

The Vision: Unity and Progress

Outlining his government’s roadmap, Ruto identified food security, value addition, manufacturing, and infrastructure development as key pillars of Kenya’s advancement.

He stressed that unity and inclusion were essential, saying that real progress could not be achieved through partisan divisions.

“Kenya’s progress must never be a partisan pursuit; it is a national, inclusive mission,” he said.

The President revealed that he had reached out to leaders across political lines — including former President Uhuru Kenyatta, MPs, governors, and grassroots representatives — to craft what he termed “a holistic national strategy.”

A Warning on Imports

Ruto also sounded the alarm over Kenya’s heavy reliance on food imports, calling it both “economically unsustainable and a threat to sovereignty.”

“We cannot speak of prosperity while importing basic foodstuffs like maize, wheat, rice, sugar, and edible oils,” he warned.

To counter this, he announced plans to modernise agriculture by bringing two million acres under irrigation and building 50 mega dams across the country — a move he said would secure food independence and create millions of jobs.

A Tribute to Raila’s Legacy

Ruto’s remarks carried a tone of personal respect and national reflection. They served as both a tribute to Raila’s memory and a reminder of the unfinished mission he had championed — one defined by democracy, devolution, and social justice.

Raila Odinga, who passed away in India on October 15, was laid to rest four days later in a private ceremony at his ancestral home in Kang’o ka Jaramogi, Bondo, Siaya County.

His passing marked the end of an era, but as Ruto’s words suggested, the ideals that Baba fought for continue to shape Kenya’s path forward.