Former Prime Minister and ODM leader Odinga chose dialogue over destruction, ODM Communications Director Philip Etale has said, defending the opposition leader’s controversial pact with President William Ruto as a necessary step to protect Kenya from total collapse.

Speaking during an interview with Radio Generation Kenya, Etale said only Raila accepted Ruto’s request for dialogue after the country plunged into unrest during the 2024 tax protests.

He emphasized that Raila was not the architect of the idea to form a broad-based government, but rather responded to an appeal from the Head of State.

“It was the president who reached out to the honorable Raila Odinga and told him, my brother, please, let’s sit down and reason out. Only Raila Odinga accepted. Accepted, okay to stand for the country,” Etale explained.

The pact was formalized on March 7, 2025, when Ruto and Raila signed a memorandum of understanding at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

The deal created a broad-based government bringing together the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to jointly address pressing issues such as public debt, corruption, and service delivery.

Going further, the ODM Director defended the decision, arguing that continued confrontation between protesters and the government would have endangered the country’s stability.

He said key state institutions were already under attack during the demonstrations.

“Raila looked at Kenya. Where was Kenya going? Parliament was invaded, was raided, a part of it was torched. Then what would have been the end result? A lot of government institutions, including the State House, would have been fallen victim to this,” Etale said.

He added that despite the youth calling on Raila to stay out of government, he had to choose peace and stability. “Yes, the youth of the country told him, car candle, we are doing it for you. But then what was happening?” he posed.

Etale insisted that the country was at a tipping point, and Raila’s decision helped restore calm and prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.

“Even if you want to be the president, would you want to lead a country that is asked, no? Would you want to lead a country that is entire? Terms, people are not, you know, people are worried. Everyone is fright. No.”

On the issue of police brutality during the 2024 protests, which left at least 60 people dead according to rights groups, the ODM Director placed the blame on public disobedience, saying the violence was provoked by the actions of protestors.

He explained that peace cannot be achieved when people ignore the law and attack institutions.

“That is the stand that Raila took, I want Kenya first and he’ll be remembered for this particular decision he made many years to come, not today,” Etale noted.

Some leaders within the Azimio coalition have expressed dissatisfaction with the deal, claiming they were not consulted.

Etale responded by saying it is only the president who can confirm whom he reached out to and that Raila was the only one who agreed.

“Perhaps if they were reached out by the President… I don’t know if he reached out to the others and they turned down his request. I don’t know , it’s them to say,” he said.

The Director maintained that Raila’s choice was not about power, but about protecting the nation.

“The ODM director insists Raila acted for the country, not for personal gain,” he concluded.