Kenya’s main opposition party signs MoU with government
Kenya’s leading political parties, the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation.
President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga signed the agreement on Friday, noting that the deal aims to resolve Kenya’s social, political, and economic issues.
The parties pledged to collaborate on key issues, including the high cost of living, youth unemployment, and gender inclusivity in leadership.
In the MoU, UDA and ODM agreed to audit public debt, evaluate its utilization and plan repayments, ensure inclusivity in public appointments and revenue allocation, and increase the budgetary allocation to the 47 county governments.
President Ruto and prime minister Raila pledged to uphold the democratic right to peaceful assembly and to compensate victims of police brutality. The leaders also urged the National Police Service to adopt a more tactful approach when handling demonstrations to prevent fatalities, while condemning instances of abductions linked to law enforcement agencies.
On the economic front, the agreement outlines plans for increased investments in high-potential sectors, including mining, the blue economy, agriculture, and ICT.
The agreement requires government officers to obey court orders and only challenge the validity of court pronouncements through legal processes.
“The memorandum does not define the formation of a coalition between ODM and UDA,” Raila pointed out.
For his part, President Ruto called on Kenyans to rise above political differences.
“This arrangement is inspired not by what is in it for me or him (Odinga) but how we can close ranks and deal with issues affecting Kenyans,” President Ruto said.
