President William Ruto has sought to keep Nyanza firmly within his political alliance with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, telling residents not to be drawn into new political formations ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Ruto made the appeal in Homa Bay at the end of his four-day tour of Nyanza, as he worked to strengthen the partnership between his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The President told residents that the broad-based government was the route agreed upon with Raila and urged them to remain on that path instead of trying out other political options.
“Do not agree to do political experiments with that group that has no agenda or plan for this country. The way we agreed with Baba to form the broad-based government to bring all Kenyans together and end tribalism, that is the route we should travel,” Ruto said.
He said the arrangement had given Nyanza an opportunity to remain part of national decision-making while also benefiting from government development programmes.
Ruto questioned the plans of political groups seeking to pull residents away from the alliance, accusing some opposition formations of being built around individuals or ethnic interests rather than a clear national programme.
“Those other characters are either personality cults, tribal political parties or makeshift tribal formations which have no plan for the future of this country,” the President said.
The President further challenged voters to examine what politicians had achieved before deciding who to support, rather than relying on political slogans or personalities.
“Are you not the same people electing MCAs, governors, MPs and even President? Do you do that based on their appearance or track record? Where is their track record?” posed Ruto.
His remarks were part of a wider effort during the Nyanza tour to present his cooperation with ODM as a continuation of the political understanding he had reached with Raila before his death.
Ruto repeatedly referred to Raila’s role in the formation of the broad-based government, arguing that the partnership between UDA and ODM was connected to issues that had been central to the former opposition leader’s political agenda.
ODM leaders supporting the arrangement have also maintained that remaining in government is in line with Raila’s wishes.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, speaking in Misambi, Kabondo Kasipul constituency, went further by claiming that Raila had planned to support Ruto in the 2027 presidential election.
Mbadi said his long working relationship with Raila gave him a clear understanding of the former Prime Minister’s thinking on the political partnership.
“I have heard people say that Baba was not decided whether to support Ruto or not. Today I want to confirm to you here, I have worked with Baba from 1992 and I don’t even have to listen to hear Baba to know what he was thinking,” he said.
Mbadi said Raila had specifically instructed him to help Ruto deliver his government agenda after the two political sides entered into the broad-based arrangement.
“When Baba brought us broad-based government, his words to me were very clear. He told me that I must make sure that I support President Ruto to deliver on his agenda.”
According to Mbadi, ODM’s entry into the broad-based government was part of a planned political understanding rather than an unexpected development.
He said Raila saw the cooperation with Ruto as a wider relationship between the two political camps and believed ODM had effectively become part of the government once Ruto assumed the presidency.
“He [Raila] even considered Ruto as part of ODM. When Ruto became president, he felt like already ODM was part of the government,” he said.
The political message comes amid growing differences within ODM over the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 election.
A majority of ODM leaders have continued to support the broad-based government, while a group led by Siaya Governor James Orengo has moved towards the Linda Mwananchi opposition movement.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi is the only elected MP opposed to Ruto’s re-election.
Ruto’s four-day Nyanza tour covered Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori counties. Alongside commissioning and inspecting development projects, the President used the visit to rally political support and reinforce his alliance with ODM ahead of the 2027 election.
He was accompanied by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omolo, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Woman Representative Joyce Bensuda and MPs Boyd Were of Kasipul and Eve Obara of Kabondo Kasipul.