By Michelle Ndaga
In a moment described as historic for Kenya’s politics, President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday co-chaired a joint parliamentary group (PG) meeting of Kenya Kwanza and ODM lawmakers at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen. The gathering marked a dramatic shift from their fierce 2022 election rivalry to a shared commitment under a 10-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on national unity and economic recovery.
The agenda placed strong emphasis on the implementation of the NADCO report, a product of the 2024 bipartisan dialogue. That process born out of violent 2023 protests in which at least 57 Kenyans died recommended sweeping electoral reforms, greater police accountability, and constitutional amendments to strengthen governance. Analysts say the bipartisan PG reflects a rare political compromise, shaped more by mounting public pressure than by ideological alignment.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s presence at the meeting further highlighted Kenya’s shifting political landscape. Kindiki assumed office on November 1, 2024, following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, a development that fractured political loyalties in the Mount Kenya region. His participation signaled a reconfigured balance of power within the ruling coalition, with potential implications for how the unity agenda unfolds.
Both Ruto and Odinga, often adversaries on the campaign trail, struck conciliatory tones, urging lawmakers to “rise above partisanship” and focus on reviving the economy, restoring public trust in state institutions, and ensuring inclusive development.
The Karen meeting, observers note, could be a turning point in Kenya’s governance trajectory testing whether elite consensus can deliver meaningful reforms, or whether it will remain a temporary truce in a country long defined by deep political divides.
