MP Mbui: Ruto's pact with Raila still won't get him re-elected in 2027

MP Mbui believes President Ruto's partnership with his long-term political nemesis and former opposition leader is a mere plot to bolster his presidential ambitions in the 2027 general election.

"Whatever is happening right now is not going to add any value to him. If you look at the 10-point agenda that was raised, you just need to read the Constitution," he said on Citizen TV's Daybreak show on Monday.

"I suspect this is a scheme by Ruto to prepare himself for 2027. He wanted to silence the opposition."

The legislator further scoffed at the political pact signed last week, centred on a 10-point agenda that aims at fostering national unity and addressing long-standing governance challenges. 

Mbui argued that the duo used a lazy approach to compile the agreement terms, terming it a mere game for the next polls.

"They just did a summary of the Constitution, picked some things to make it look and sound very nice and then tell Kenyans things are happening," he stated.

"This is a person I have believed in. I don't know what has happened, and I think maybe he will come to his senses and tell us what is really going on."

He also believes that Ruto's promise to ensure Odinga is accorded appropriate respect is a bold falsehood, arguing that the two share a dark past that might remain alive.

"Who has been mistreating Raila? It is UDA. So now suddenly he says that now 'you will be treated well', by who?" he posed, referring to Ruto's United Democratic Alliance party.

While signing the UDA-ODM framework agreement at KICC on Friday, Ruto vowed to do everything within his power to ensure former Odinga is respected both locally and internationally.

He explained that all peers, juniors and seniors should acknowledge Odinga's contributions that span across generations.

"I am not doing this for any selfish reasons; it is because you're my senior, and your contributions deserve respect," Ruto said.

The pact, termed a 'handshake', has attracted ridicule from Kenyans and political leaders, among them Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his DAP-Kenya counterpart Eugene Wamalwa, who called it a ‘betrayal' to Kenyans.

The two leaders said Raila had betrayed the cause of Kenyans who died in anti-government protests in 2023 and 2024 against the high cost of living, punitive taxes, and governance problems.

"If there is no formula at KICC today showing how Kenyans are going to compensate their families and the loss of lives because of police brutality, then nothing will come out of KICC other than betrayal of the Kenyan people," Kalonzo said on Friday.