Former CS Kipruto Kirwa tears into Raila over Saba Saba stance
By Luke Oluoch, July 7, 2025The former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Kipruto arap Kirwa has slammed Raila Odinga over his utterances regarding the Saba Saba protests scheduled for Monday, July 7, 2025.
Speaking to a local TV station On Monday, July 7, 2025, Kirwa accused Raila of engaging in double-speak and attempting to play catch-up after realising the youth have gone past his leadership.
“Why does Raila have to get into this situation? He knows that young people have been doing it on their own; they don’t need him. He is playing double and being ambivalent in his stance. He is only trying to play catch-up,” he stated.
“He is not the Raila we knew; he was not even clear on what he would be doing to Kamukumji. How about the people killed and the women clamouring for the release of Kenyans and their children from detention?” he posed.
Kirwa further castigated Raila for attempting to run away from his association with President Ruto after sensing the displeasure of Kenyans with the current regime.
“In leadership, sometimes you realise the people are ahead of you. Maybe he wants to run away from the regime and destroy our side. He knows Ruto has no support, and he also wants to shift and pretend to be part of the revolution,” he concluded.
His sentiment follows after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader on Sunday, July 6, 2025, opined that the best way to commemorate Saba Saba is by going to the historic ground and not on the streets.
Raila said that Saba Saba Day is not a day for protests and demonstrations but a day to remember those who lost their lives fighting for Kenyans.
“Saba Saba was a very noble idea. Saba Saba was meant to bring the people together for a common cause, which was change, and we decided to go to Kamukunji grounds, which is a historical ground. This is where the last Kenyan African Union meeting was held in 1952 before the declaration of the state of emergency,” Raila said.
“Kamukunji has historical meaning, which is why we want to go there. If you want to remember Saba Saba, then we will go to Kamukunji. I always go to Kamukunji on Saba Saba Day to remember the people who lost their lives, so my idea would be we go to Kamukunji tomorrow, and if you are talking about protesting, where is this protest going to start, and where is it going to? My view would be that the road should lead to Kamukunji.”