William Ruto vs Raila Odinga

Finance Acts and levies raised the tax take, while the state also funds or runs housing, health cover (SHA) and input subsidies. The record points both ways. (medium confidence)

As Prime Minister backed state programmes such as the Kazi Kwa Vijana youth-jobs scheme. His ministerial spells left a thin economic record. (low confidence)

Signed Finance Acts whose levies were criticised as falling on consumers and payrolls. The Hustler Fund and subsidies point the other way. Contested. (low confidence)

Rights groups and critics allege executive overreach. Supporters point to laws passing through Parliament. Not court-settled in this pass. (low confidence)

Detained for years under Moi during the fight for multiparty politics, led the 2005 'No' campaign against a strong-presidency draft and backed the 2010 Constitution. Then co-led BBI, which courts ruled unconstitutional. (medium confidence)

Governs in a broad-based arrangement with ODM and is moving toward a formal 2027 coalition with it. (medium confidence)

Alternated between confronting and joining government: merged his party into KANU in 2002, joined the Grand Coalition in 2008, the 2018 handshake, and cooperation with Ruto's government from 2025. (high confidence)

Rights organisations documented deaths and abductions around the 2024 protests. The government disputes parts of this. (medium confidence)

Detained without trial 1982 to 1988, 1988 to 1989 and 1990 to 1991, and kept organising. Protests he called were met with police force that rights groups documented. (medium confidence)