Mbadi: ODM will not field a presidential candidate in 2027
Politics
By
James Omoro
| Oct 11, 2025
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has revealed that the ODM party will not field a presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election.
His comments, however, are a stark contrast to claims by other ODM party members who maintain that the party must have a candidate
In the last few weeks, there has been confusion on whether ODM will support President William Ruto or field a candidate for the forthcoming general election.
Earlier, some ODM legislators said the party will support Ruto’s re-election, while others posited that the party will field a candidate in the election.
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The confusion made the party leader, Raila Odinga, announce that ODM had not made any agreement to support Ruto’s re-election.
The comments left Kenyans guessing the position ODM will take ahead of the polls.
But Mbadi has made a revelation that has left tongues wagging over the position of the arrange party.
Mbadi, who is a life member of ODM, has become categorical that his party will support President Ruto’s re-election in 2027.
Speaking at Ligongo Primary School in Suba South Constituency during tree planting to mark Mazingira Day, Mbadi revealed that ODM had already finalised the decision to support William Ruto’s re-election bid.
Mbadi said the decision to support Ruto’s re-election, especially in Nyanza region, where ODM enjoys a massive following, was no longer negotiable.
“The decision to support President Ruto is something we have concluded in the Nyanza region. In fact, there is no more debate about it,” Mbadi said.
Mbadi emphasized that his statements should not be taken for granted based on his closeness to the leadership of ODM. He told Nyanza residents to understand that his ties with ODM had not changed despite relinquishing the party’s national chairmanship.
“The only thing I don’t have in ODM is the official post I quit to conform with the law to become a cabinet secretary. But my relations with the party are still intact,” Mbadi said.
He emphasized that he was the only leader with more freedom to tell Nyanza residents the future plans of ODM than elected leaders of the party.
“I am here with Homa Homa Woman Rep Joyce Osogo who is a member of my party. But she and other elected leaders can only speak about the party position with a limit but I am the only one allowed to talk about if freely. The truth is that ODM will support Ruto’s re-election in 2027,” Mbadi said.
Mbadi argued that he had amiable experience in discovering what is good for ODM and its members.
“As a person who served for the longest time of ten years as ODM chairman, I know what is good for the party. It is supporting Ruto to become the next President,” Mbadi said.
He said supporting Ruto will enhance negotiation among Nyanza residents to ascend to the top leadership of this region.
According to Mbadi, Nyanza residents should not support the opposition leaders because they are not interested in empowering them.
“I had foreseen that we have two options as Nyanza people, supporting Ruto to work until 2032, then we negotiate how to capture power from him or supporting the opposition leaders and rule forever. The better option is to support Ruto,” Mbadi said.
He explained that Ruto had the goodwill for implementing development in Nyanza. He mentioned many roads that have been earmarked for tarmacking in the region.
“I have learnt that Ruto is a very good President. His decision to construct many roads for us shows his love for us as a people. Let us support him,” Mbadi added.