Caption:Raila Odinga speaking in Kiambu County at a funeral where he criticised SHA and tax policies. VIDEO/https://www.youtube.com/@AzimioTVOfficial
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga sustained his criticism of the country’s healthcare system on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Speaking in Kiambu County, where he attended a funeral, Raila told the residents that the Social Health Authority (SHA) was not working as required.
Raila noted that issues bedeviling SHA needed to be addressed urgently to alleviate Kenyans suffering.
“Hatutaki wananchi wetu wazidi kuumia. Mambo ya matibabu ikona shida. Hii mambo ya SHA haifanyi kazi, mpaka irekebishwe (We do not want our people to continue suffering. The healthcare system has an issue. SHA is not working and it must be addressed),” Raila stated.
Tax policies
At the same time, Raila noted that Kenyans were facing so many deductions imposed by President William Ruto’s administration.
Specifically, Raila poked holes at the housing levy, which he maintained was high.
“Hii mambo ushuru wananchi wanatozwa ni juu sana ata hii ya manyumba izi. Mpaka irekebishwe (People are being taxed highly, even this for Affordable Housing. It must be addressed),” the former prime minister told Kiambu residents.
ODM cannot sit and watch
While exposing some of the issues affecting the Kenya Kwanza government. Raila made it clear that his party, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), could not sit back and only lament.
He told Kiambu residents that the need to make some of the issues work is what informed ODM’s decision to sign a pact with the United Democratic Alliance.
“Haiwezi kurekebishwa kama unakaa Kando, mpaka uingie ndani uwaambie Fanya hii na hii na hii na uweke watu wako wafanye (The issues cannot be addressed if we stay away, you must get in and tell them what to do and even put some of your people to help solve them,” Raila said while defending the newly signed framework.
Not about 2027
At the same time, he moved to dismiss claims that the framework was a key to assuring President William Ruto’s 2027 re-election.
He dismissed the notion, making it clear that people will have the right to pick their rightful candidate in the 2027 presidential polls.
“We cannot just sit and watch as the country sinks. We must work to see if we can help salvage the situation and when the time comes in 2027, Kenyans will decide who to vote for.”
