ODM leader strikes conciliatory tone while demanding justice for families affected by 2023-2024 demonstrations
HOMA BAY – Opposition leader Raila Odinga delivered a measured yet firm message to President William Ruto during Madaraka Day celebrations, calling for compensation to victims of anti-government protests while warning against the revival of colonial-era provincial administration.
Speaking at the packed Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay County, the ODM leader struck a conciliatory tone but insisted that national healing requires acknowledgment of past grievances and concrete action to address them.
Odinga renewed his call for the government to compensate families affected by the violence that marked the 2023 and 2024 anti-government demonstrations, emphasizing that apologies alone are insufficient for national reconciliation.
“I want to say today that we should do compensation to families of those who died and those who were injured. We want Kenyans to live in peace and unity,” Odinga told the crowd, referring to both his party-led protests in 2023 and the youth-driven Gen Z demonstrations of 2024.
The protests, sparked by public dissatisfaction over rising living costs, increased taxation, and demands for electoral justice, were met with heavy-handed police responses.
According to Amnesty International Kenya, at least 65 people were killed, 89 forcibly disappeared, and thousands arrested during the 2024 protests alone.
Odinga defended the protesters as legitimate citizens seeking reform rather than criminals. “We have had several challenges in the country.
Two years ago, we were on the streets, and a year ago, the Gen Zs were also on the streets,” he said.
While acknowledging President Ruto’s recent apology to the youth during the National Prayer Breakfast on May 28, Odinga insisted that words must be followed by action.
“I saw that during the prayer breakfast recently, there were apologies being made, by the Speaker and yourself [President Ruto], which is wonderful as a first step to reconciliation. But there is the issue of people who are injured, the people who died during that time.”
Opposition to Provincial Administration Revival
In a separate but equally significant message, Odinga urged President Ruto not to resurrect the provincial administration system, calling it a colonial relic incompatible with modern Kenya’s devolved governance structure.
“Provincial administration is a relic of colonialism. It has no place today in a free and independent country. Let county governments receive sufficient resources and be allowed to deliver services to the people,” the former Prime Minister declared.
Instead of centralizing power, Odinga called for strengthening devolution by ensuring adequate funding for county governments.
He specifically urged Parliament to honor a previous agreement to allocate Sh450 billion to counties in the upcoming national budget.
“We want to see devolution working. Counties need to be properly funded so that they can provide essential services. There are also some national functions that can be delegated to counties to make governance more effective,” he said.
The ODM leader emphasized that while Members of Parliament should continue their oversight, legislative, and representative roles, development work should remain with county governments.
Throughout his address, Odinga emphasized the need for national unity and inclusion, urging Kenyans to reject divisions based on tribe, gender, religion, or culture.
“This is what our founding fathers envisioned—one nation united in diversity,” he said, echoing the spirit of Madaraka Day, which commemorates Kenya’s attainment of internal self-rule from British colonial rule in 1963.
The Madaraka Day address comes amid a period of political reconciliation between Odinga and President Ruto, who signed a memorandum of understanding in March 2025 to form a “broad-based government” aimed at national unity.
President Ruto, who was present at the ceremony, has adopted a more conciliatory approach in recent months, including his public apology to the youth.
However, Odinga’s message made clear that sustainable peace requires addressing the grievances of those affected by past violence.
As Kenya marks another year of independence, Odinga’s dual message of reconciliation and accountability reflects the delicate balance the country must strike between moving forward and ensuring justice for past wrongs.
His opposition to reviving provincial administration also underscores ongoing debates about the future of Kenya’s governance structure and the role of devolution in national development.
The veteran politician’s measured approach suggests a willingness to work with the current administration while maintaining pressure for systemic reforms and justice for victims of state violence.
