Charlene Ruto Lauds Raila Odinga for Rare Gesture in Homa Bay Devolution Conference: "It Humbled Me"
- President William Ruto's daughter, Charlene, has appreciated ODM Raila Odinga for his kind gesture during the Devolution Conference 2025 held in Homa Bay
- Charlene recalled Raila walking back to her exhibition stand long after he had passed by when she was not there
- That the ODM leader agreed to walk back and hear from her was a display of high regard, which she won't take for granted
Charlene Ruto has revisited the exceptionally memorable experience she had while in the company of ODM leader Raila Odinga at the just-concluded Devolution Conference 2025 held in Homa Bay.
Source: Twitter
Raila showed up at the well-attended high-level conference on August 14, a day after President William Ruto opened it.
Did Charlene Ruto have exhibition stand at devolution conference?
Charlene's SMACHS Foundation was among the organisations carrying out exhibitions on the sidelines.
She recalls that she had wanted Raila to pass by their stand to showcase her organisation's bee-keeping initiatives and innovations.
President William Ruto had previously passed by the stand.
Charlene recollected how the chance to get Raila's audience slipped away as she was engaged in a panel discussion far from the stands where the ODM was being shown around.
After her contribution on the panel, she left to catch up with Raila, who had unfortunately advanced further from the SMACHS stand.
"I had just picked up the microphone to contribute to the LREB panel on promoting nurturing care for early childhood development, and when I put it down, that's when I saw the text message: “Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga is about to pass by our stand.” It had been sent 10 minutes ago. I rushed to our booth, but I was too late; he had already left," Charlene recalled.
With Raila having left, Charlene knew she had missed the elusive chance and would perhaps wait for the next one if it avails itself.
But all was not lost.
How Charlene Ruton won Raila's audience
Her team was proactive enough to have Raila back.
They followed after and convinced him to walk back to the stand where Charlene was eagerly waiting.
Source: Twitter
To help persuade Raila to return were Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
"I knew I had missed my opportunity, but my team told me we would make another way. As promised, they ensured I had a conversation with him and re-invited him to our stand once he had shared his remarks at the plenary," she said.
That Raila acceded to the request to walk back was a kind gesture, the president's daughter said, adding that it was a humbling experience.
Charlene expressed her gratitude to Raila and used the experience to urge the youth to fight for opportunities to be heard even in the face of challenges.
"It humbled me so much that Raila Odinga, together with the Cabinet Secretary of Health Aden Duale, and with the support of Her Excellency Gladys Wanga, the Governor of Homa Bay, chose to walk back all the way to my stand to listen to what we do. As young people, if we raise our voice, we truly have a listening and concerned ear. Thank you, Baba!" she said.
What Raila said at devolution conference
Separately, Raila, while speaking at the plenary of the conference, revisited his reservations on the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) nanaged by MPs.
The ODM leader argued that devolution ought to be strengthened and be left to serve its purpose.
He observed that what the MPs have held onto are functions meant for county governments, asserting that the lawmakers were being driven by greed.
Raila restated that MPs' roles are strictly representation, legislation and oversighting the national executive.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
