President William Ruto’s chief economic advisor, Dr. David Ndii, has weighed in on renewed online debate over Ruto’s political partnership with UDA secretary-general Hassan Omar, despite their stormy history during the International Criminal Court (ICC) era.
It all began when an X user resurfaced an old clip of then Eldoret North MP William Ruto accusing Omar, who was the chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), of coaching witnesses to implicate him in the post-election violence cases.
The post questioned how the two men, once fierce adversaries, are now working side by side in the same political party.
In a measured response, Ndii said that politics should never be taken personally.
“Politics and public affairs generally are not personal. Soldiers fight and kill each other for their countries; off the battlefield, they are not enemies,” he wrote.
He added; “Whenever you are fighting for your current formation, remember the political players have no sides, only interests.”
His statement appeared to defend the political alliance between Ruto and Omar, describing it as a matter of evolving interests rather than betrayal or hypocrisy.
Ndii’s remarks highlighted a common theme in Kenyan politics, where alliances often shift depending on circumstances and power dynamics.
Omar, who once served as Mombasa senator, joined UDA before the 2022 elections after leaving the Wiper Party.
Since then, he has become one of President Ruto’s most trusted political allies in the Coast region, playing a central role in strengthening the ruling party’s presence there.
Ndii, known for his outspoken views and role in shaping Ruto’s “Bottom-Up” economic model, has often defended the administration’s approach to both politics and governance.