Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has praised ODM leader Raila Odinga’s rich legacy but urged him to recognise that it is time to step aside from active politics.
The senator said Raila has earned immense respect for his role in advancing democracy and social justice in Kenya — achievements that, Onyonka emphasised, cannot be ignored.
However, he argued that the moment has come for Raila to hand over the political stage to a new generation of leaders.
“Raila has played a role that cannot be erased. But a good player must know when to leave the dance floor,” Onyonka said on May 5, 2025, during a talk show.
Raila is currently working with President William Ruto after his ODM party signed a cooperation agreement with the United Democratic Alliance Party.
Asked why he has shifted his political allegiance from Raila to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Onyonka said he disagreed with Raila’s decision to team up with President William Ruto.
“I have had a special relationship with Raila for over 30 years. He is part of my lifetime. But at this point, the people who elected me feel that Raila is not stepping back to preserve his name for history’s sake,” Onyonka explained.
“The people who voted for me — my community, young Kenyans, and the country — feel that Raila should have held his fire, without necessarily teaming up with the government.”
The senator warned that Raila risks inheriting political baggage, similar to what happened after his 2018 handshake with former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
When asked why he doesn’t resign from ODM and seek a fresh mandate from voters after breaking ranks with Raila, Onyonka dismissed the idea, saying there’s no need to waste public resources on a by-election he believes he would win overwhelmingly.
“In ODM, we are debating issues that are not personal,” he said.
Onyonka has emerged as one of the key pillars of Matiang’i’s presidential campaign, playing a central role in building his alliances with major opposition figures.
On May 4, 2025, Onyonka accompanied Matiang’i to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Wamunyoro residence.
