MOMBASA, KENYA — Raila Odinga, leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has signaled a potential political divergence from President William Ruto, indicating his party’s intention to field a presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election. This stance comes despite the ODM’s recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
Speaking in Mombasa on Saturday, April 6, Raila Odinga publicly declared that the ODM would challenge the incumbent president in the upcoming election. He clarified that the MoU with Ruto did not signify the ODM’s integration into the Kenya Kwanza government, but rather an agreement aimed at assisting the president in stabilizing the government and the economy.
“I did not enter into this wedding with the state to betray Kenyans. Kenya is bigger and more important than any individual. Kenyans must unite and work together. But during electioneering, ODM will also contest.”
Raila Odinga said.
“When the election period comes, the ODM party will field a presidential candidate despite its deal with Ruto,” Odinga asserted. He dismissed claims that the ODM’s agreement with Ruto constituted a betrayal of Kenyans, particularly those who participated in the anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests. Odinga explained that the MoU was forged in the interest of peace following the youth-led anti-government demonstrations.
Conversely, Odinga criticized those advocating for the “Ruto Must Go” movement. Speaking in Machakos on Saturday, March 15, he emphasized that Ruto should be given time to fulfill his promises to Kenyans.
He articulated that the agreement with Ruto was crucial to enable the Kenya Kwanza administration to address critical issues such as exploitative tax regimes, the high cost of living, and inefficiencies within the health sector.
Odinga cautioned that excessive anti-government activism would impede productivity and warned that the country would be worse off in 2027 if the current administration were consumed by political infighting and regime change efforts.
He advised those opposing Ruto’s regime to await the 2027 elections, where they could exercise their democratic right to initiate political change through the ballot box.
