Pastor Ezekiel Odero has openly condemned critics targeting Raila Odinga for joining forces with President William Ruto. Addressing the recent backlash, the New Life Prayer Centre and Church founder questioned the logic behind the outrage, especially from those who didn’t vote for the ODM leader in the last general election.
In a passionate address, Pastor Ezekiel challenged Kenyans to reflect on their actions during the 2022 polls. He asked why people are so quick to label Raila a traitor when many of them didn’t support his bid for the presidency in the first place. According to him, those who failed to vote for Raila have no moral ground to question his current decisions.
He went further to question the consistency of Raila’s supporters, reminding them that their desire was to see him in leadership. Now that he is actively participating in government matters, the preacher asked whether this wasn’t the very outcome they were hoping for.
“People are saying Raila has betrayed them. But weren’t you the same ones who denied him your vote? Was he supposed to vote himself into office? You say he shouldn’t work with Ruto, yet Ruto is the one who won. Didn’t you want Raila in power? Now that he’s working with the current government, how is that wrong?” he questioned.
Pastor Ezekiel also pointed out a pattern of political blame that has persisted over the years. He highlighted how, in the past, the public has harshly criticised other leaders like Mwai Kibaki and even pushed for Uhuru Kenyatta to step down. He urged Kenyans to exercise maturity and consistency in their political expectations instead of lashing out emotionally.
The preacher’s comments quickly gained traction online, with many netizens sharing their opinions. While some praised him for speaking what they described as the “truth,” others felt he was being dismissive of legitimate public concerns.
In the same message, Pastor Ezekiel also addressed another controversial topic — President Ruto’s donations to churches. Responding to accusations that the president’s financial gifts to churches could be linked to corruption, the pastor dismissed the claims. He defended Ruto’s right to give, pointing to the president’s known wealth and business ventures.
Ezekiel argued that people were being unfair and disrespectful by assuming ill intent behind the president’s generosity. He stated that contributing to church projects is not a crime and should not automatically raise suspicions. In his view, the donations should be seen as acts of goodwill rather than triggers for controversy.
In conclusion, Pastor Ezekiel called for more introspection among Kenyans. He urged the public to take responsibility for their own electoral choices instead of projecting blame onto leaders who are navigating the political terrain in ways they see fit. His message was firm: you can’t expect one outcome from your vote and then complain when the result doesn’t align with your shifting expectations.
