Ruto courts Raila's key bastions ahead of 2027 as ODM faces internal rift

President William Ruto has started a scheme to inherit the late ODM leader Raila Odinga’s strongholds in a bid to secure his re-election in 2027.

Nearly a month after Raila died, Ruto has been on  a charm offensive to court the ODM strongholds, which include Nyanza, Western, Maa region, and Coast regions.

Other than using Raila’s State burial to present himself as a true friend of Raila, Ruto’s allies trooped back to Nyanza, especially in Ugunja, donning ODM-branded caps and T-shirts as they praised the Ruto–Raila cooperation that led to the formation of a broad-based government, which they exuded confidence would work beyond 2027.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and his counterpart in the Senate Aaron Cheruiyot have told the Nyanza region to remain in government as that was the wish of the ODM leader, even as Ruto swiftly moved to Western to woo the region.

Ruto, who concluded his Western tour last week, pledged Sh46 billion worth of goodies as a way of consolidating Raila’s constituency, promising the region his plans to pursue affirmative action policies to support it.

He said his administration intended to construct 10,000 affordable housing units in Vihiga and outlined the electricity connection to 15,000 homesteads and the construction of the Kidundu Stadium.

He also pledged that his administration was constructing 10 fresh produce markets at a cost of Sh2 billion to provide traders with a dignified working environment.

From Western, Ruto will be joining the ODM high command in Coast over the weekend to celebrate the party’s 20th anniversary in Mombasa.

Although he will be joining the party as a founding member, since he was part of the team that assembled the party 20 years ago, analysts believe he will use his court allies within ODM to popularize himself in the region that overwhelmingly voted for Raila in past elections.

According to James Nduhiu , President Ruto was keen to get votes to replace those from the Mt Kenya region that he seems to have lost following his fallout with former Deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

“The close to three million votes he got from Mt Kenya, and which now lean to either Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) or Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee, must be replaced, and that is why he (Ruto) is keen on visiting the late Raila’s strongholds,” Nduhiu noted.

These efforts have created cracks within the ODM party, with some leaders maintaining that the Luo community was an orphan and must submit to Ruto’s reign as they crisscrossed the region with the gospel of tutam (two terms) to campaign for his re-election.

The MPs include Sam Atandi (Alego Usonga), Jared Okello (Nyando), and Mark Nyamita (Uriri), as well as Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, who together with former ODM leaders appointed to the Cabinet insist that the region must work with Ruto beyond 2027.

“We as the Luo community are certified orphans, and I have never seen any orphans giving conditionality. Our quest to work with Ruto is both unequivocal and unconditional. We will stand with you (Ruto) because of what you believe in and what you have done,” Nyando MP said.

One of the conditions the ODM, through its acting party leader Oburu Oginga, has given to Ruto in return for their support is the position of the Deputy President.

Atandi also maintained that the party must support Ruto in 2027 as it will not be fielding a presidential candidate.

“In 2027 nobody from our community will run for President, but one of us will run for Presidency in 2032 and therefore we must support Ruto. Our community has had politicians who have been around since Jaramogi. They tried to help him to become President—they failed. They tried to help Raila to become President—but they failed. And now they still want to give us directions, but their time is up. Ruto will help us get to State House in future,” he said.

However, the MPs’ position was yesterday criticized by Raila’s sister and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, who termed their sentiments a betrayal of the party’s resilient spirit and history of struggle.

“I have never seen a Luo who proudly calls himself an orphan and expects sympathy. Even in the days of Gor Mahia and Lwanda Magere, we were known to be fighters. When a leader goes down, another must rise. We don’t recoil into an orphan’s corner,” she said.

She urged ODM supporters to reject self-pity and instead re-energize the movement Raila built, saying the party must continue to be a national force that speaks truth to power.

“Yes, we are orphaned, but we must move forward. Poverty in your brother’s home cannot make you lose sleep, and our situation will not make President Ruto lose sleep. We must come out with a strong voice,” she said.

She maintained that ODM was not a Luo party , describing it as a people-driven movement born out of Kenya’s long struggle for democracy, not a personality cult dependent on one leader.

“ODM is not a Luo party. It was formed by people who wanted change, not just a new political vehicle. When we lost Raila, it became important to have voices that remind us of that journey,” she said.

She praised her brother Oburu for providing stability and unity during the transition, saying he has shown calm leadership and openness to dissenting voices. [Ndungu Gachane]