Raila dismisses reports that dialogue would benefit his allies
By Arnold Ngure, July 21, 2025ODM Party leader Raila Odinga has dismissed reports that the proposed dialogue would benefit his close allies and those of President William Ruto.
Speaking during an interview on Sunday, July 20, 2025, Raila indicated that there was need for a wider dialogue, with more representation from the grassroots level as compared to what the nation has had in the past.
“NADCO had just 10 people from each side of the political divide coming together to discuss issues. There were fewer people talking. Who did not come from the grassroots,” Raila said.
“They had the ideas which had been raised from the media and up there, but we need to get ideas coming from down there at the ground, and it must be a bigger forum than the ones before.”
Participation in the conclave
He revealed that his participation in the talks will not take centre stage, noting that even President William Ruto would attend the national talks like any other participant.
“I will just come in as a participant; even President Ruto will come there as an individual and a participant, not as a president,” Raila said.
He distanced himself from reports that the outcome of the talks would only benefit his allies and accommodate them in the government.
“This is not intended to help Raila or Ruto, it is a Kenyan process and it will help us to deal with the crisis we have today,” Raila said.
Raila has also suggested how he hopes the national conclave should be organized, observing that, unlike the previous talks, it will begin from the polling stations and proceed upwards.
“I am happy, at least that Kenyans are now discussing this issue; that is why I want it to be. My suggestion is that you start at the grassroots at every polling station, where everyone has a right to assemble,” Raila said.
Elect representatives
“After they assemble there, they can talk about issues affecting them, and then they can agree to elect representatives to go to the next level. Once they agree on issues to be discussed, they elect 40 or 50 people there again, where 20 are the youth, then it goes to the ward level.”
“At the ward, they discuss and then elect another 40 to go to the next level of Sub-County, where the same exercise is done, then they proceed to the County, where we end up with 40 delegates from each county coming to the national conclave,” Raila stated.