Raila insists on conclave talks, says ‘Ruto Must Go’ not solution
By Ascah Mwango, July 20, 2025Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has come out strongly in defence of his proposed national conclave, saying it offers a lasting solution to Kenya’s problems.
He dismissed the popular “Ruto Must Go” chants, saying they do not address the real issues facing the country.
Speaking on a local TV station on Sunday, July 20, 2025, instead, he advocated for a deep and inclusive national dialogue that empowers citizens to shape their future.
Raila explained that the conclave would begin at the grassroots, starting at the polling station level, where ordinary Kenyans would gather to openly discuss the issues affecting them. These discussions would lead to the election of local representatives who would carry their views and concerns to the next stage, the ward level.
The process would then move on to the county level, following a similar model of dialogue and representation.
At each stage, delegates would be elected based on consensus and the strength of their ideas, ensuring that only genuine voices of the people advance to the top. The final stage would be a national conclave made up of Members of Parliament, religious leaders, intellectuals, civil society actors, workers’ representatives, and other key stakeholders.
This national forum would then deliberate on the compiled issues from the lower levels and craft comprehensive, citizen-led solutions for the country.
“I am happy that Kenyans are speaking about this conclave. My suggestion is that we start at the grassroots. At the polling station. People assemble there, and they talk about their issues. They agree to elect representatives to go to the next level. They come up with issues, then they elect people, let’s say 50 people or 40. Then go to the next level, the ward level. Same exercise. Then next we go to the county level, then the national conclave, where MPs, religious groups, intellectuals, workers’ representatives,” he explained.
According to Raila, the conclave must be intergenerational and fully representative of Kenya’s diversity.
“This should not just be intergenerational, it must be representative of Kenya’s full diversity,” he said.
He has proposed that each of the 47 counties send 40 delegates to the national dialogue, which is expected to kick off in August. Half of these delegates will be youth, while the rest will include elders, women, persons with disabilities, farmers, businesspeople, and civil society actors.
“I have proposed that each county should send 40 people, 20 be youth and 20 others drawn from elders, women, persons with disabilities, farmers, businesspeople, and civil society,” he said.
Raila emphasised that the conclave will be a people’s process and not government-led, and insisted that it will fund itself. He believes that Kenyans, especially the youth, are committed enough to contribute to the process.
“These young people are not just protesting for the sake of it. They are our children. We must listen to them and talk,” he stated.
He warned that if public frustration is not addressed now, the country could face bigger problems in future.
“We do not want to head into the 2027 elections with even more bitterness. Hasira ni hasara,” he cautioned.
On the political calls for President William Ruto to resign, Raila made it clear that removing the head of state is not the answer.
“Ruto must go is not a solution, nothing will change unless we deal with the root causes,” he said.
The conclave
Raila’s proposed national conclave is expected to bring together 1,880 delegates from across the country. These representatives will tackle major issues such as police brutality, corruption, youth unemployment, and gaps in the current constitution.
He said the outcomes of the discussions should be presented to the public in a referendum to allow Kenyans to have a final say.
Raila maintained that the goal of the conclave is not to help him or President Ruto, but to fix the systems that have failed the people of Kenya.
“This is not about me or Ruto. It is about Kenyans. It is a people’s process,” he said.