The Ministry of Defence has strongly criticised a report by Daily Nation that claimed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga prevented a military coup against President William Ruto.
In a statement released on Monday, March 17, the Ministry dismissed the report published in Sunday Nation under the headline “Raila: I Saved Ruto from Military Coup”, as well as another similar article in Taifa Jumapili titled “Nilivyozima Mapinduzi Dhidi ya Ruto”. The Defence Ministry described the claims as misleading and inaccurate.
Ministry Calls Out Media for Spreading Falsehoods
The statement from the Ministry expressed concern over the articles, warning that they contained false and reckless allegations.
The reports cited an unnamed source and claimed that Raila, in an exclusive interview, stated that Kenya was on the verge of military rule and that his intervention stopped it from happening.
Dismissing the claims as “false, baseless, unfounded, misleading, and reckless,” the Ministry reaffirmed that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is a highly professional and apolitical institution.
“KDF remains committed to its constitutional mandate and does not engage in political affairs,” part of the statement read.
The Ministry also accused Daily Nation of sensationalising sensitive national security matters and urged the media house to uphold ethical journalism.
It called on the press to report responsibly by ensuring accuracy, fairness, and truthfulness in their publications.
What Raila Allegedly Said in the Interview
In the alleged interview, Sunday Nation reported that Raila claimed the deployment of the military during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests nearly led to a full-scale military takeover.
According to the report, Raila argued that if the protests had escalated, the military could have taken control of the country, permanently ending civilian rule.
“If the military had taken over, then Ruto would not be in power today. Once soldiers leave the barracks, they never go back,” Raila was quoted as saying.
He reportedly explained that the country was at a dangerous crossroads and that his priority was to prevent chaos, even if it meant engaging with President Ruto, who was unpopular among protesters at the time.
Raila also denied betraying Gen-Z demonstrators, insisting that his focus was on preventing a crisis rather than fuelling political instability.
Political Uncertainty and Raila’s Next Move
The publication of these claims comes at a time when Raila’s political strategy is under scrutiny, especially after he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with President Ruto earlier in March.
In his most recent public address, Raila dismissed calls from politicians urging him to run against Ruto in the 2027 elections.
Speaking during the burial of veteran retired Pilot Colonel James Nguyo Gitahi in Maanzoni, Machakos County, the ODM leader said he was more focused on addressing the country’s immediate challenges.
“Removing Ruto will not solve the fundamental problems affecting Kenyans,” Raila stated, making it clear that his priority is tackling the real issues rather than engaging in political battles.
His latest remarks have left many speculating about his next political moves, especially in light of his unexpected agreement with President Ruto.
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