Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse has hailed ODM leader Raila Odinga as a beacon of peace, unity, and reconciliation, likening him to global statesmen such as Kofi Annan and the late Nelson Mandela.

Speaking over the weekend, Mutuse praised Raila’s enduring legacy of selfless leadership and his consistent efforts to bring the country together through high-profile reconciliatory handshakes with former political rivals.

“When the Moi government was in trouble, Raila Odinga said Kenya is bigger than any leader. He lowered his party’s flag and joined President Moi to help steady the country,” Mutuse recalled. “It took Raila to say ‘Kibaki Tosha’ for Kibaki to become president.”

The MP described Raila as a true patriot who has repeatedly put the nation’s interests above personal ambition.

“Raila is more than a national leader. He is playing in the same league as Kofi Annan. Raila is the new Mandela of Africa,” said Mutuse. “He has done all this for the good of the nation, not for personal glory.”

Mutuse also urged Kenyans to rise above tribal politics and focus on building a united and prosperous country. He noted that, for the first time in Kenya’s history, the Nyanza region holds two major government positions — the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Attorney General — which he said reflects a growing commitment to national cohesion over political affiliations.

He emphasized the need to focus on economic growth and the creation of opportunities for young people as the foundation for lasting peace and development in the country.