- Defence CS Soipan Tuya has rubbished reports alleging Raila Odinga prevented a coup against President Ruto.
- The Ministry of Defence called the claims “false, baseless, and misleading.”
- KDF maintains it is a professional and apolitical institution loyal to the Commander-in-Chief.
- The Ministry urged media outlets to uphold ethical journalism, especially on national security matters.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has firmly denied claims suggesting that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga played a role in preventing a military coup against President William Ruto.
In a statement issued on Monday, March 17, the Ministry of Defence dismissed the reports published over the weekend, terming them as misleading and unfounded.
“The articles, which cite an anonymous source, allege that Raila Odinga, in an exclusive interview, claimed he averted a military coup against His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces,” the statement read.
CS Tuya made it clear that such claims hold no truth.
“The Ministry categorically states that the claims in the newspaper articles are false, baseless, unfounded, misleading, and indeed reckless,” she affirmed.
KDF’s Loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief
The Defence Ministry reiterated that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) remains a professional institution dedicated to upholding the Constitution and safeguarding national security.
“The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is a professional and apolitical institution committed to the highest standards of integrity, discipline, and service to the nation,” the statement emphasized.
It further noted that KDF’s allegiance to President Ruto as the Commander-in-Chief is unwavering, distancing the military from any political influence or external manipulation.
Call for Responsible Journalism
The Ministry also took a swipe at the media, specifically urging Nation Media Group to maintain ethical reporting standards.
“The Ministry urges Nation Media Group to uphold the principles of ethical journalism by ensuring accuracy, fairness, and responsibility in reporting, especially on matters of national security,” the statement added.
Raila’s Alleged Remarks on Military Takeover
According to the controversial reports, Raila Odinga claimed that Kenya was on the verge of a military coup during the anti-Finance Bill protests by Gen Z in June 2024. He reportedly stated that the deployment of the military to quell the protests could have led to an overthrow of the government.
“If the military had taken over, then Ruto would not be in power today. Once soldiers leave the barracks, they never go back. The country was on the brink. If the protests had continued the way they were, the military would have taken over, and that would have been the end of civilian rule,” Raila was quoted as saying.
However, the Defence Ministry has completely discredited these claims, assuring Kenyans that the military remains neutral and committed to protecting the country under constitutional guidelines.
