Kenyan president and opposition veteran sign political deal

NAIROBI, Mar 07 (AFP): Kenyan President William Ruto signed a political cooperation deal with his former arch-rival Raila Odinga on Friday in a bid to boost his presidency after months of turmoil.

Ruto's popularity has been dwindling after plans for new taxes sparked massive youth-led protests last year that saw at least 60 people killed, according to rights groups.

The protests plunged Ruto's government into a crisis, forcing him to join forces with Odinga to form a "broad-based government" last year with several members of his party.

They formalised that partnership on Friday, vowing to work together on the country's many challenges including its ballooning debt and corruption.

Odinga is the perennial runner-up of Kenyan politics, having unsuccessfully run for the presidency five times.