East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP David Sankok has poked fun at President William Ruto over his recent political detente with ODM leader Raila Odinga, just years after their fierce rivalry.
Speaking during an Easter Sunday service in Ntulele, Narok County on Sunday, April 20, 2025, Sankok commended the government’s current broad-based approach that now includes Raila, pointing out how times have changed.
“These days, we have a broad-based government. You see, even Raila is now with us — thank you for bringing him,” Sankok said, drawing laughter from the congregation.
“You and I have been fighting Raila, but I must say — Raila is the King of Peace,” he added.
Sankok cited Raila’s post-prison reconciliation with former President Daniel Moi through the NDP-KANU merger, his cooperation with President Mwai Kibaki after the fractious 2007 election, and his controversial handshake with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“Raila himself was jailed for nine years by Moi, but later forgave him and they worked together through the NDP merger. With Kibaki, they clashed like laundry on a clothesline, but still came together in a coalition government,” he noted.
Turning his attention to Ruto, Sankok didn’t hold back, reminding him of past attacks against Raila.
He recalled the period when Ruto routinely dismissed Raila as “Mzee wa Kitendawili” and vowed to return him to his rural home in Bondo using a wheelbarrow — a symbolic reference to UDA’s campaign slogan.
“You yourself used to call him Mzee wa Kitendawili, and you told us you would put him in a wheelbarrow and send him back to Bondo. But now, look, you’ve made peace and become one,” Sankok quipped.
Ruto-Raila pact
Sankok’s remarks come just over a month after Ruto and Raila signed a framework agreement on March 7, 2025, formalising cooperation between the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and ODM.
The pact, titled ‘Understanding to Resolve the Social and Political Challenges Facing Kenyans,’ outlines ten key focus areas, including the full implementation of the NADCO report, strengthening devolution, fighting corruption, safeguarding public funds, and protecting democratic freedoms.
At the signing, Ruto maintained that the deal was about national unity and service delivery, not political power-sharing.
“This moment is not about William Ruto or Raila Odinga; this memorandum of understanding is not about sharing positions or winning elections. It is about the interests of the people of Kenya,” Ruto said.
Raila also downplayed the idea of a political merger, clarifying that the agreement was aimed at stabilising the country and not forming a coalition.
“We make it clear that the memorandum we have signed today does not define the formation of a political coalition between ODM and UDA. However, its successful implementation could inform the basis of steps towards the establishment of a constitutive formation of a stable country in the future,” he said.