Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, Wilson Sossion, has praised President William Ruto’s recent tour of the Nyanza region, which has been reported as a huge success.
Speaking to a local TV station on Monday, September 2, 2024, Sossion attributed the warm reception Ruto received in the region to his growing camaraderie with opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Sossion highlighted the importance of the newfound unity between the government and the people of Nyanza.
“When you see the president releasing all the funds to support Raila for the AUC chairmanship, that’s a very serious undertaking. We have expanded the horizon instead of constricting within our political space,” Sossion remarked.
He noted that this development reflects a broader political alliance between President Ruto and Raila Odinga that would help unite Africa as a continent.
“Politically speaking, the steps taken by the president and Raila Odinga are significant, irreversible, and firm. So when you see the president being received in Nyanza together with his team, you can see it’s all Kenyans coming together in one voice. It’s a beautiful thing. Why do we want to divide a country? We can’t unite Africa if we are dividing ourselves here at home. We must unite here at home before we can unite the continent,” Sossion stated.
Ruto, Raila bromance
Sossion’s remarks come just days after President Ruto publicly endorsed Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.
Ruto launched the bid in a grand event attended by several leaders from across Africa.
During the launch, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also endorsed Raila for the AUC chairmanship.
He praised Raila as Kenya’s best candidate to lead the continent, highlighting his passion for pan-Africanism and resilience.
“This is a great moment for our country. What a day, what a moment! We are here as a country to unveil Kenya’s finest to go and lead Africa. It’s a proud moment for this country. This is a quest that has brought pride to our nation,” Gachagua stated.
“As a country, we present Raila Odinga to be our candidate it is because Africa our motherland deserves the best. The passion and zeal of Raila Odinga in pan-Africanism is well documented. Passion knows no age, knows no limit. Raila Odinga will join the ranks of Jomo Kenyatta and Kwame Nkrumah in pushing the agenda for Africa.”
Addressing past political differences, Gachagua clarified that his opposition to Raila Odinga was purely political, centred on their competition for the presidency.
“Now that he’s pursuing a greater role in Africa, we are fully behind him,” he added.
