The announcement by ODM leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto that they have now buried the hatchet and will start working together is still trending across social media, with many Kenyans struggling to reconcile this newfound alliance given the scathing remarks the two had previously hurled at each other when their feud was at its peak.
Following this, hawk-eyed netizens have dug up a past video of President William Ruto speaking harshly against the Orange Democratic Movement leader, vowing never to share even a morsel of his government’s pie with him.
The video, taken in August 2023—just months after he had clinched the August 2022 elections—is as raw as it gets.
If anything, Ruto did not mince his words as he laid bare his disdain for the then-opposition leader, making it clear that Raila was the reason past Kenyan presidents—Moi, Kibaki, and Uhuru—had faltered in their roles, and he would never allow himself to suffer the same fate.
“Waliletea fujo Moi mpaka wakapata cooperation. Wakaletea fujo Kibaki mpaka wakachukua nusu mkate. Wamekuja wakazungusha Uhuru hapo mpaka wakaenda na handshake. Program yetu ikapotea. BBI ikapotea, tukazama tukaingia kwa madeni. Sasa mimi nimewaambia, hii serikali hii… mimi nawaambia hii ni ya mahustler. Hakuna nusu mkate. Hakuna handshake. Hakuna hiyo porojo.”
Then, he went even further, insisting that all the seats Raila and his opposition allies were clamouring for were already taken, as Kenyans had long finished the election process and handed leadership to those they deemed fit.
“Hawa wananchi walimaliza kazi ya viongozi tarehe tisa mwezi wa nane, wakagawa viti zote. Viti za viongozi zilimalizika mwezi wa nane. Wale wa kupata MCA walipata, wale wa kupata governor na wale wa kupata rais, imeisha. Ama kuna kiti mlibakisha? Si viti mlimaliza? Mligawa, ikaisha. Sasa ile kazi imebakia ni kazi ya wananchi—tujenge barabara, tujenge soko, tupange mambo ya matibabu, tupange mambo ya biashara, tuondoe njaa. Hiyo ndiyo kazi imebaki.”
And now, netizens have brought this video back to life, reposting it with a mix of disbelief and curiosity, wondering what could have possibly changed for Ruto to suddenly embrace the very leader he once swore he would never tolerate a handshake with.
All the while, however, others have remained adamant that the Head of State could be working on a major economic revival plan and should be given time to prove himself.
Here are some of the comments from the videos reposted on TikTok:
@We Grow said: “Sounds just funny. But a few moments later, little did he know…”
@Harrison M said, “Sasa uko wapi na ako kitchen kwako?”
@Kichwa Mraba said, “Kweli huyu jamaa ni muongo.”
@Aided Bishar said: “Huwezi jua, kweli labda sasa watasaidia mayuths vile inafaa na mambo ikuwe poa.”
Watch the video here:
Change of Tune
However, in an apparent change of tune, today, March 7, 2025, the Head of State washed Raila clean, insisting he was the perfect leader he had chosen to help him steer the country towards unity and deliver on stalled developments.
This came after the two signed a pact committing to work together in a bid to help fulfil the election promises Ruto had showered upon Kenyans.
During the event, Ruto vouched for Raila, saying he would be at the forefront of ensuring he is accorded the respect he rightfully deserves, while referring to him as his elder and insisting that he was doing all this out of genuine goodwill.
“I called my brother and told him, ‘You have been my brother and party leader. Today, by God’s grace, I am President, and I want you to be treated with dignity. I will do whatever it takes to ensure you are respected in Kenya. I am not doing this for any selfish reason; I am doing it because I am a younger person, and you are my elder—not just by age but also in terms of the contributions you have made to this country. You deserve respect, and that is the relationship I have built with Raila.’”