President William Ruto has pledged to carry forward the development legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, describing him as a nationalist whose political vision went beyond tribal politics.
Speaking at a church service at the Voice of Salvation and Healing Church in Kisumu on Sunday, Ruto said Odinga could not be replaced but that his legacy could be preserved through development.
“It may not be possible and it will never be possible to replace the Honorable Raila Amolo Odinga and nobody should attempt,” Ruto said.
“But we can only work together to make sure that what he believed in, his legacy lives on and informs the future of the development of our nation.”
The president highlighted the Standard Gauge Railway and housing as two areas where he said Odinga’s vision had influenced development.
On the railway, Ruto said: “I can proudly say, as part of his legacy, that project of Standard Gauge Railway has now started from Narok and from Kisumu.”
He also credited Odinga with championing slum upgrading during the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) administration.
“We have carried on that vision… housing is now a major development in the Republic of Kenya,” he said, pointing to housing projects in Kisumu and other parts of the country.
Ruto also praised Odinga’s political legacy, saying he had built a national party and pursued a career as a statesman.
“He built a party that was national and leaves behind a legacy that is national. He never believed in tribal politics. He built his career as a nationalist, as a statesman,” he said.
Ruto was speaking at the start of a four-day working tour of the Nyanza region, which will take him to Homa Bay, Migori and Siaya counties.
The president said his administration would continue to advance development initiatives and ideals associated with Mr Odinga’s legacy.
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