Ruto appeases Odinga family in scramble to retain presidency come 2027

In his scramble to retain the Presidency ahead of 2027, President William Ruto has been on a sustained charm offensive to woo the Raila Odinga family - a move that he relies on to inherit the late Raila Odinga’s support base.

Aware of the massive influence the family holds within and outside the ODM party, which has largely been relegated to the opposition in recent times, Ruto has done everything in his power to appease them, efforts that date back to before the untimely demise of Raila.

On January 27, 2024, Ruto officially endorsed and launched Raila Odinga's candidacy for African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship at State House, Nairobi, where he praised him as a "visionary Pan-African".

This took the nation by surprise as the duo had been bitter rivals who had just a year before been embroiled in a heated contest for the Presidency in the August 2022 general election.

Shortly after the announcement, Ruto took a leading role in campaigning for the then-opposition leader and was actively lobbying for Odinga's bid during high-profile meetings, including discussions with African heads of state on the sidelines of the FOCAC summit in Beijing, China, and at the COMESA Summit.
And despite not clinching the chairmanship in the 2025 elections held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ruto and Raila would maintain a cordial political friendship.

In March 2025, the duo would enter into a landmark political pact centered on a 10-point agenda to foster national unity and address long-standing governance challenges.
The agreement, coming after years of political rivalry, sought to implement the recommendations of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, including the creation of the Office of the Official Opposition Leader and the reinstatement of the Prime Minister’s position.

The pact marked a significant shift in Kenya’s political landscape as the two leaders, who had oscillated between alliance and animosity over the years, resolved to put their political differences aside to address national issues- a move that cooled political tensions and bought Ruto more time to put his governmental affairs in order.

Prior to the deal, President William Ruto had reached out to Odinga for another political deal that saw opposition leaders appointed to the cabinet.

Four members of Odinga's ODM party, namely John Mbadi, Opiyo Wandayi, Hassan Joho, and Wycliffe Oparanya, were appointed as Cabinet Secretaries and joined Ruto’s government under the "broad-based" government.

The move was interpreted by many as Ruto's attempt to solidify his hold on power amid increasing discontent with his administration over its perceived failure to improve the lives of poor people, while raising taxes heavily.

Odinga’s union with Ruto also faced heavy criticism, especially from the young people behind the deadly 2024 anti-government protests, who accused him of betrayal. He, however, insisted that he only "donated" experts to help the president "save" the country.

And when the demise of Raila reverberated across the country, Ruto would declare seven days of national mourning. Raila passed away on the morning of Wednesday, October 15, after suffering a cardiac arrest during a morning walk in India.

In events preceded by none following the death of an opposition leader, all flags will fly at half-mast; at State House and all Kenyan diplomatic missions, public buildings and public grounds, all military bases, posts, and stations on all naval vessels in any territory that is considered the Republic of Kenya.

And shortly after the Indian government offered to cover the cost of the repatriation of the body of Raila Odinga back to Kenya, he relayed that a special delegation, consisting of top government officials led by the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, would immediately head to India to facilitate the repatriation.

What followed was a State Funeral, where Raila was accorded military honours with State protocols.

Earlier in January this year, President Ruto nominated Raila’s widow, Idah Odinga, for appointment as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, in a communiqué, stated that the President had formally transmitted the nomination to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, in line with constitutional requirements governing appointments to the Foreign Service.

Koskei described Mama Idah, as she is popularly known, as a distinguished educationist, civic leader, and advocate for social justice and gender equity.

“In the early 1990s, amid the national clamour to transition from a single-party State to a multiparty democracy, she played a key role in advancing calls for change and democratic reform as the founding Chairperson of the League of Kenya Women Voters,” noted Koskei.
“Since then, she has consistently championed initiatives that improve the lives of women, children, the youth, and vulnerable communities.”