ODM leader Raila Odinga has defended his cooperation pact with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), saying it has brought stability and key reforms to the country.

Speaking in Machakos on Monday, September 22, 2025, Raila underscored the importance of democratic transitions, insisting that Kenya must always choose the ballot over violence.

“Better to change leadership through the ballot, rather than the bullet — that’s why we acted as we did,” Raila said, in reference to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed earlier this year between ODM and UDA. The agreement, he explained, marked a transition from informal collaboration to a structured political partnership aimed at ensuring Kenya remains stable and united even in times of political contestation.

According to Raila, the coalition has already borne fruit. He pointed to the successful passage of the 2025/26 national budget and the adoption of key reforms such as the National Cohesion and Tolerance Commission (NATCO) report, which was endorsed under the ODM-UDA framework.

“Through teamwork, our country is on a stronger path. ODM-UDA cooperation delivered the budget and reforms. Compromise without losing core values, resolute leadership and regular consultation are moving us closer to a stable, equitable, and prosperous nation,” he said.

The ODM leader also weighed in on Kenya’s mounting debt and the government’s controversial approach to financing infrastructure. He argued that the country should focus more on leveraging and investing in assets rather than over-borrowing.

“Our assets inherently remain here, even if sold. Better to sell and invest than to borrow,” Raila noted, highlighting the dangers of ballooning public debt which has been a thorn in Kenya’s fiscal management.

Raila’s comments also revisited the collapsed deal with India’s Adani Group to expand and manage Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). The proposed partnership, worth over Sh600 billion, would have allowed Adani to operate the airport for 30 years in exchange for investing in its modernization. The deal, however, was cancelled after a public outcry and opposition criticism.

“Adani wasn’t taking the airport but investing in it, with affordable costs spread over 30 years — this is similar to Kigali’s deal with Qatar. Kenya missed out on becoming a regional hub due to noise and selfish ambitions,” Raila lamented.

The former prime minister insisted that Kenya’s decision to back out of the partnership cost the country a major opportunity to cement its position as East Africa’s aviation hub. He cited Rwanda’s agreement with Qatar Airways to develop the new Bugesera International Airport as an example of forward-looking leadership that Kenya should emulate.

“Other countries are moving ahead while we allow politics to hold us back,” he said.

Raila further criticized what he termed “political noise” and “selfish interests” that have consistently sabotaged long-term projects. He maintained that Kenya must learn to rise above partisanship if it hopes to compete globally.

Political analysts say Raila’s remarks mark a new phase in his relationship with the government, as ODM’s cooperation with UDA continues to reshape Kenya’s political landscape. For many, his defense of controversial economic policies and large-scale infrastructure projects signals a shift from opposition politics toward consensus-building — though critics accuse him of abandoning his watchdog role.

Still, Raila insists that his party has not lost its values. “The essence of leadership is compromise without betrayal, and progress without destruction,” he said.