Wanga defends Raila’s call for dialogue, says he seeks unity not power
By William Muthama, July 18, 2025Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has come out strongly in support of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s call for national dialogue, saying he is not seeking power but simply offering a path out of the national crisis.
Speaking on Friday, July 18, 2025, during an interview on Milele FM radio, Wanga dismissed claims that Odinga’s push for a national conversation is a political manoeuvre for power-sharing.
“Baba has been here long enough to know our national fabric is fragile,” Wanga said. “People are angry. People are hungry. Dialogue must not be confined to Nairobi. It must go to all counties so Kenyans can speak freely about where the shoe pinches.”
She emphasised that Odinga’s suggestion for talks was not about creating positions or gaining political mileage, but about finding a sustainable way forward amid growing youth discontent.
Let Kenyans vent
Wanga warned that failure to create platforms for genuine dialogue could lead to national instability. “Let people come and talk. Let people vent. But when people vent in anarchy, we will not have any other country,” she said.
She asked critics to stop misrepresenting Odinga’s intentions, insisting that he is not asking for another handshake deal. “I see people saying Baba wants another something.
“He doesn’t want anything. He just wants us to talk so we know the options. What are the other ways? Is it anarchy? Will we demonstrate every day until 2027? Will we occupy State House? That’s illegality and people will die.”
Youth must speak
Odinga himself reiterated his call for a youth-led national dialogue during a public forum in Bomet on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
He proposed that every county should select 20 young people to participate in a national convention alongside women, elders, clergy, the disabled, and civil society representatives.
“Let this be 50 per cent youth and 50 per cent other citizens,” he said, stressing the need for inclusive solutions.
His remarks followed nationwide protests led by Generation Z, sparked by incidents like the June 17 killing of Albert Ojwang and the Saba Saba demonstrations on July 7, where 38 people were confirmed dead and over 130 injured.
Odinga warned: “Let’s not go into the 2027 elections with too much anger.”