Category: Politics

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has made his boldest declaration yet that he is prepared to take the mantle of Luo political leadership following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying he has the experience, grounding and vision to guide the community into what he calls its next political chapter.

Addressing residents during an empowerment drive in Kisumu on Friday, Mbadi said he understands the political journey Raila charted for decades but intends to lead with his own identity, insisting that succession should not be reduced to simply filling the late leader’s shoes.

He described Raila as a towering figure whose sacrifices cannot be replicated, but said that leadership must now evolve with new realities.

“I know where Raila was taking us but I won’t put on his shoes. I will buy one that fits me and lead the Luo community the way I know. I am ready to lead the Luo nation into Canaan,” Mbadi said, drawing applause from the crowd.

He revisited Odinga’s long struggle for democracy and justice, saying anyone aspiring to succeed him must understand the weight of that history. According to him, it is misguided to imagine that another leader can simply assume Raila’s place without enduring the political trials that defined the ODM leader’s life. He said the community was now at a defining moment and needed to move forward with clarity and unity.

His remarks come amid heightened jostling over who will inherit Raila’s extensive political bloc. Mbadi’s claim is strengthened by Ida Odinga’s public endorsement last year, when she said the then nominated MP had been trained by Raila for years and was best positioned to take over the region’s political leadership. At the time, she praised his steadfastness and said he carried Raila’s confidence and trust.

Several other senior leaders have also expressed interest or are seen as potential successors. Among them are Raila’s elder brother and ODM party leader Oburu Oginga, Energy and Petroleum CS Opiyo Wandayi, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga. A younger generation featuring Winnie Odinga and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino is also pushing for greater influence, signalling a competitive and unpredictable transition.

Mbadi said succession must not destabilise ODM or derail the community’s long-term ambitions, urging the party to focus on capturing state power instead of being trapped in perpetual protest politics. He said political parties are formed to govern and must therefore prepare strategically for the next two general elections.

“If we cannot produce a president for Kenya in 2027, we must produce a president of Kenya in 2032. That must be the irreducible minimum for ODM and for our community,” he said.

He also defended ODM’s involvement in the broad-based government, saying political alliances should be guided by strategy rather than emotion. According to him, those urging the community to reject cooperation with President William Ruto are not offering a realistic alternative. He insisted that ODM must learn to operate both inside and outside government if it hopes to shape national destiny.

The coming months are expected to intensify the Luo succession debate as Mbadi moves to consolidate his base while other political heavyweights position themselves. But with Ida Odinga’s nod and a growing assertiveness, Mbadi appears intent on stepping fully into the space Raila occupied for decades and steering a new era of Luo politics under his own imprint.

Sh5 trillion blueprint anchored on education, agriculture, energy and infrastructure as government privatises state firms to fund ambitious transformation

President William Ruto has unveiled an audacious blueprint to transform Kenya from a developing nation to a first world economy by 2055, outlining a four-pillar strategy requiring at least Sh5 trillion in investment over the next decade.

In his third State of the Nation Address to a joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday, the President presented what he described as Kenya’s most ambitious development agenda yet, challenging the country to reject mediocrity and embrace the same discipline that propelled Asian Tigers like Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia from poverty to industrial powerhouses.

“We often speak of the Asian Tigers with reverence, making their rise seem like a miracle from a distant world. We marvel at how they journeyed from poverty to industrial powerhouses, from aid recipients to exporters of world-class goods,” Ruto said. “But these nations rose not because of special advantages but through leadership, discipline, strategic investment and an uncompromising rejection of mediocrity.”

The President said Kenya must now choose ambition over fear and abandon what he termed the false comfort of low expectations.

He insisted the country has the talent, resources and capacity to achieve developed nation status within a generation.

The transformation agenda rests on four critical pillars: massive investment in education and innovation; agricultural modernisation through irrigation; energy expansion; and transport infrastructure development.

On education and research, Ruto announced the creation of a dedicated State Department for Science, Research and Innovation. The government plans to increase national research funding from the current 0.8 percent to 2 percent of GDP, creating a Sh1 trillion research fund over the next decade to support innovation and commercialise Kenyan ideas.

The education budget has already increased from Sh490 billion in 2021 to over Sh700 billion this year, facilitating better infrastructure, more teachers and enhanced funding for universities and TVET institutions.

On agriculture, the President unveiled a nationwide irrigation programme targeting 2.5 million acres within seven years. This includes building 50 mega dams, 200 medium and small dams, and thousands of micro-dams across counties including Mandera, Isiolo, Machakos, Garissa, Kisumu, Laikipia, Embu, Turkana, Nyeri, Kilifi, Kiambu and Bungoma.

Ruto said Kenya cannot continue relying on rain-fed agriculture, noting that only 15 percent of the country receives adequate rainfall. The nation currently spends over Sh500 billion annually importing food, including maize, wheat, rice, sugar and edible oils.

“We cannot speak of prosperity while importing basic foodstuffs. This is not just economically unsustainable but a serious threat to national sovereignty,” he said.

The energy sector forms the third pillar. Although Kenya has an installed capacity of 3,300 megawatts, the firm capacity stands at only 2,300 megawatts due to the intermittence of solar and wind power. The President announced plans to generate an additional 10,000 megawatts through geothermal, solar, wind, hydro and eventually nuclear sources.

“Modern industries, data centres, artificial intelligence infrastructure, electric mobility and large-scale manufacturing all require reliable, abundant and affordable electricity,” Ruto said.

On infrastructure, the government has mapped 2,500 kilometres of highways for dualling and 28,000 kilometres for tarmacking over the next decade. The President confirmed that public-private partnerships will modernise Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the Port of Mombasa and the Port of Lamu.

He also announced that the long-delayed Standard Gauge Railway extension from Naivasha to Kisumu and eventually Malaba will commence in January 2026, opening access to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

To finance this ambitious agenda without increasing taxes or public debt, the government will establish a National Infrastructure Fund underpinned by the Government-Owned Enterprises Bill, 2025, which Ruto signed into law on Friday.

The new law requires state corporations to operate as commercial entities, be self-financing and profit-making. It converts 65 existing companies and 18 statutory entities into public limited companies, including Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, National Cereals and Produce Board, Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Railways Corporation, Agricultural Development Corporation and the National Housing Corporation.

Privatisation of the Kenya Pipeline Company, expected to raise Sh100 billion, is already underway following National Assembly approval.

Presidential Council of Economic Advisers Chairman David Ndii clarified that the Infrastructure Fund will be capitalised through privatisation proceeds rather than new taxes or levies. For every shilling invested from privatisation, the government aims to attract ten shillings from pension funds, sovereign partners, private equity and development finance institutions.

The President cited successful models abroad, including Australia’s Future Fund, Singapore’s Temasek and the United Arab Emirates’ Mubadala, as proof that commercially run public investment funds can grow national wealth and deliver transformative infrastructure.

However, the ambitious plan faces significant challenges. Industrial actions by teachers, university lecturers and healthcare workers have raised questions about whether a nation struggling with such labour disputes can achieve first world status.

Opposition leaders have also dismissed the President’s vision as unrealistic, with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua previously telling Ruto he promises Singapore but behaves like Somalia.

But the President remains defiant. Speaking in Samburu County earlier this month, he told critics: “We are going to shock you; we are going to surprise you because Kenya is going to move from a Third World to First World country in our lifetime.”

He dismissed opposition leaders as people with no plans, no agenda and no manifesto for the country, accusing them of specialising in division, tribal talk and hatred.

“You are the same people who said we cannot lower the cost of living, improve education and provide better healthcare. We want to tell them that the Government of Kenya does not belong to them; it belongs to all Kenyans,” Ruto said.

The President emphasised that Kenya’s transformation will require unity, discipline and sustained focus from leaders and citizens alike. He positioned the plan as a generational assignment whose success depends on collective resolve to follow through.

“Today, the evidence is clear, evidence of promises made and promises kept. In just three years, we have built not monuments of words, but foundations of progress,” Ruto told Parliament. “The decisions made today will shape the quality of life, economic stability and global standing of future generations.”

The President closed his address by urging the country to embrace a higher level of ambition, saying the proposed blueprint represents a turning point for Kenya’s long-term development. He argued that Kenya now stands at a pivotal moment, with an opportunity to break historical cycles of underinvestment and unlock the country’s full potential.

Also signed into law during Friday’s ceremony at State House were the County Governments Additional Allocations Bill, 2025, providing Sh70.6 billion in extra funding to counties; the Capital Markets Amendment Bill, 2025, modernising the licensing framework for capital markets intermediaries; and the Provisional Collection of Taxes and Duties Repeal Bill, 2025, removing an outdated colonial-era law inconsistent with the Constitution.

Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has disclosed that he cautioned his late younger brother Raila Odinga about potential family disputes that could arise after his death if they failed to resolve pending matters, particularly regarding their estate.

In a candid interview, Dr Oginga revealed that he raised these concerns with the former Prime Minister during a phone conversation just days before Raila’s unexpected death in India on October 15.

The ODM leader said he feared unresolved issues could fracture the unity he and his brother had carefully nurtured over decades.

“I was telling him that there are a few things which are outstanding in the family, including the estate, which we had managed with him,” Dr Oginga recalled.

He urged his brother to settle the matter once and for all by ensuring each family member received what was due to them, leaving no loose ends that could fuel future conflict.

The senator expressed particular concern about the next generation’s ability to maintain the same cohesion he and Raila enjoyed. “Life of a human being is temporary. If anything happens to you or me, or to both, and we all go, these young people, I don’t see them gelling as much as we gel with you,” he told his brother.

The two had planned to meet in Dubai on October 19 to address these family matters, but Raila’s sudden death prevented the meeting from taking place. “It was as if there was a premonition. I was the one raising the issue, and he agreed with me a hundred percent. Before we could do anything, this thing happens and he dies,” Dr Oginga said.

His fears appear to be materialising faster than anticipated.

Barely a month after Raila’s burial at Kang’o ka Jaramogi, cracks within the Odinga family have begun to surface publicly.

The most dramatic moment came during ODM’s 20th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa last weekend, where Raila’s daughter Winnie openly challenged the party’s current direction under her uncle’s leadership.

Winnie criticised ODM’s position in President William Ruto’s broad-based government, a political arrangement her late father had endorsed before his death. She questioned whether those now managing the party possess her father’s capacity to handle such complex political relationships. “Because it’s only one Baba Raila Odinga who would manage it,” she said, demanding a National Delegates Convention to allow members to decide who should steer the party’s relationship with government.

The tension had earlier manifested when Winnie conspicuously skipped the ceremony that installed her brother Raila Junior as the family spokesperson, a symbolic role meant to unify the family’s public voice. Family sources describe her absence as deliberate, signalling deeper disagreements within the family.

At the Mombasa meeting, Winnie alleged that unnamed party officials were plotting to “sell” the outfit founded by her father in 2005, warning that the party’s future should not be decided “in boardrooms and through pillow talk.”

Dr Oginga responded to his niece’s public criticism with measured calm, emphasising his lifelong loyalty to his late brother. “I stood with Raila Odinga for the 80 years he lived with us. I never betrayed Raila. I was older than Raila, but we grew up as twins. We worked together and I respected him politically, but at home in the Jaramogi family, I was his chairman,” he said, before indicating he would handle Winnie’s concerns privately at the family level.

The brewing discord comes at a particularly delicate time for ODM, which is navigating its role in the broad-based government while trying to maintain its identity as an opposition party. Dr Oginga insists he is simply implementing his late brother’s last directive, but some family members and party officials view the arrangement with suspicion.

As Kenya continues to mourn the loss of one of its most influential political figures, the Odinga family finds itself at a crossroads. Whether they can resolve their differences and preserve the unity that Raila and Oburu worked so hard to build remains to be seen. For now, Dr Oginga’s prescient warning to his brother has become a painful reality, playing out in the public eye even as guests continue to stream to Bondo to pay their respects.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has imposed Sh1 million fines on Kasipul by-election contenders Boyd Were of ODM and Philip Aroko, an Independent candidate, after a violent confrontation between their supporters left two young men dead and dozens injured.

The commission said the penalties, to be settled within 48 hours, are meant to restore order in a constituency now described as “bleeding from senseless political aggression.”

The sanctions followed a tense disciplinary hearing by the Electoral Code of Conduct Enforcement Committee, which found both candidates guilty of violating the harmonised campaign schedule they had earlier agreed to.

IEBC ruled that the candidates ignored the timetable, creating overlapping rallies that escalated into chaos and eventually erupted into lethal violence during the November 6 incident in the Opondo area of Central Kasipul Ward.

The clashes turned bloody as rival groups hurled stones at each other.

Gunshots were reported as panic spread, and a licensed firearm is said to have been discharged during the confrontation.

Two 26-year-olds, Ben Ondiege and Bruno Onyango, died from severe head injuries. Several others were treated for wounds sustained in the melee.

IEBC condemned the violence as the result of indiscipline and reckless campaigning.

The commission placed responsibility on both Were and Aroko, accusing them of allowing their supporters to flout the agreed rules and inflame tensions.

Each candidate received a formal warning and was reminded that any further breach of the electoral code could lead to disqualification from the November 27 by-election.

The two candidates have also been ordered to sign a peace charter that binds them to non-violent campaigns and strict compliance with the harmonised schedule.

IEBC officials insisted that the by-election must take place in a peaceful environment free from intimidation, chaos, or disruption.

Last week’s violence has heightened concerns in a constituency already grappling with grief following the April 2025 shooting of Kasipul MP Charles Ong’ondo Were, whose death created the vacancy.

The bloody clashes have left residents fearful that the by-election could spiral further out of control unless authorities act decisively.

Security has since been tightened across Kasipul. Police commanders have warned all candidates against mobilising rowdy convoys or convening unsanctioned rallies.

Civil society groups and local leaders have urged the IEBC to enforce the code firmly and hold candidates accountable for their supporters’ actions, arguing that the deaths of the two young men should mark a turning point in the conduct of campaigns.

Political analysts say the heavy fines could force both camps to scale down their aggressive mobilisation strategies in the final days of the race. The threat of disqualification now hangs over the contenders and could alter the momentum of the campaign as polling day approaches.

For residents of Kasipul, however, the damage from last week’s chaos remains fresh.

Many believe the two families who lost sons will carry the pain long after the by-election ends.

As one elder put it, “The politicians will continue with their ambitions, but the people who bury their children are the ones who suffer forever.”

With barely a week to go, IEBC has reiterated that no candidate will be spared if they breach the rules again. Whether this warning will be enough to prevent further violence in a fiercely contested race remains uncertain.

Former Chief Justice and presidential hopeful David Maraga has launched a fierce attack on Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, accusing her of ascending to power through a constitutional weakness that denied Tanzanians their democratic right to challenge election results.

Speaking during an interview on TV47 on Tuesday evening, Maraga claimed that Suluhu’s presidency lacks the legitimacy of the people and exists only because Tanzania’s Constitution bars court petitions against presidential election outcomes—a move he said makes elections meaningless and unaccountable.

Maraga Says Suluhu’s Autocratic Rise Exposes Tanzania’s Constitutional Weakness

Maraga compared Kenya’s democratic framework to Tanzania’s, pointing out that the Kenyan Constitution gives citizens the right to challenge presidential results in court—a safeguard he credited with keeping the system accountable.

According to him, the absence of a similar mechanism in Tanzania is the root cause of the ongoing unrest and public mistrust in the leadership of President Suluhu.

“If the Tanzanian Constitution had allowed presidential court cases like Kenya, the elections would easily have been declared illegitimate,” Maraga said. “Their constitution does not allow a petition challenging the presidential election, and that is a big mistake.”

He insisted that this legal limitation robbed Tanzanians of their voice. “If the people have not been given the chance to choose who they want, like Mama Suluhu has not obtained the legitimacy of the Tanzanian people,” he added.

The former CJ’s remarks come amid mounting criticism against the Tanzanian government for its response to widespread demonstrations demanding electoral reforms and political freedoms. Maraga’s position signals his growing influence in regional politics, where his legal background lends weight to his opinions on governance and democracy.

Suluhu’s Illegitimate Presidency Questioned by Maraga

Maraga did not mince his words when labeling Suluhu an “illegitimate Head of State.” He accused her of living in denial by blaming ongoing protests in Tanzania on foreign interference instead of accepting domestic discontent. According to him, such statements insult the intelligence of Tanzanians who are demanding accountability and change.

“Samia Suluhu is living in denial. If it were foreigners protesting and Tanzanians denying it, it would be something different. She is just slandering us,” he said.

He further challenged the Tanzanian leader to confront the reality that citizens are increasingly aware of their rights and cannot be silenced by fear or propaganda.

“Even in Kenya, when we had protests, there were foreigners here, but we did not say that they were the ones who brought violence,” he remarked. “The things we see in Tanzania are not new; we have also seen them in Madagascar and even Nepal.”

Maraga’s bold criticism positions him as one of the few regional leaders openly questioning Suluhu’s democratic record, particularly amid international concern over the government’s crackdown on dissent and allegations of extrajudicial killings.

Former CJ Condemns Murders and Arrests of Protesters

The ex-Chief Justice also took issue with the Tanzanian government’s alleged strategy of silencing protesters through violence, calling it a step backward for democracy in East Africa. He condemned the killings and arrests of demonstrators, saying the government’s actions only strengthen the perception of illegitimacy surrounding Suluhu’s presidency.

Maraga emphasized that the use of brute force in a modern society where citizens have access to information and global solidarity networks is both outdated and dangerous. “Suppressing people’s voices through intimidation and murder is a relic of colonial leadership. It has no place in today’s world,” he warned.

According to him, the growing wave of protests in Tanzania is an inevitable outcome of citizens rejecting injustice and demanding electoral reforms. He urged African nations to learn from Kenya’s experience with constitutional reforms that made the government more accountable through judicial oversight.

Elections Marred by Violence and Alleged Rigging

Suluhu was sworn in as Tanzania’s president on Monday, November 3, following an election marred by allegations of massive rigging and premeditated violence. The vote reportedly left several people dead and many injured, with opposition leaders calling it a sham exercise. Despite these accusations, the absence of a legal mechanism to challenge the results meant that the ruling party’s victory stood uncontested.

Maraga argued that such a system undermines democracy and leaves citizens powerless. “An election that cannot be challenged is not an election—it is an appointment,” he remarked during the TV interview.

Political analysts have noted that Maraga’s critique may further strain diplomatic relations between Nairobi and Dodoma. However, many Kenyans online praised him for boldly addressing what others fear to say openly.

Final Word

Maraga’s statements underline a growing debate over the state of democracy in East Africa. His insistence that Suluhu’s presidency lacks legitimacy has reignited conversations about constitutional reforms, judicial independence, and the role of citizens in holding their governments accountable.

Whether his words will push Tanzania toward reforms or invite diplomatic backlash remains to be seen. But for now, Maraga has positioned himself as a powerful voice for democracy in the region—unafraid to challenge leaders who, in his view, ride to power on flawed systems rather than genuine public will.

A political storm is quietly brewing inside the Orange Democratic Movement, but ODM acting leader Oburu Odinga has stepped in to pour cold water on fears that the party could deny Embakasi East MP Babu Owino the coveted Nairobi gubernatorial ticket in 2027.

Speaking during an explosive interview on Ramogi TV, Oburu openly assured the youthful MP that the party will honour the will of its members and hand him the ticket if he wins fairly in the nominations.

His remarks appeared aimed at cooling Babu’s visible anxiety and defiance that have been fueling whispers of a looming fallout between him and the party’s old guard.

“I do not see anything wrong with Babu Owino, although I hear there are some issues troubling him,” Oburu said with a calm smile.

“I do not think there can be any reason to deny him the ticket if he wins the nominations. If he wins, he will get it, so let him not run away from the party.”

Oburu threw the ball back to all ODM aspirants eyeing City Hall, daring them to face off in a clean and open contest instead of spreading fear or running to other parties.

“Anyone who wants the party ticket in the Nairobi governor race should just declare and square it out openly among each other. Let nobody run away because they think they will be denied a chance. Nobody can take the ticket away from you if you win it and you’re a member of the party,” he declared.

The remarks come amid a surge in Babu Owino’s political activities as he positions himself to succeed Governor Johnson Sakaja in 2027.

Babu has been everywhere lately, storming rallies, charity events and national forums with an unmistakable tone of defiance and youthful energy that has left ODM elders restless. His growing national popularity and strong online following have made him one of the most visible faces of ODM’s next generation, a status that some insiders believe has unsettled the party’s conservative wing.

Oburu, however, brushed aside claims of factional fights, warning against turning Raila Odinga’s succession into an ethnic or generational battlefield. He said leadership in Luo Nyanza, and within ODM, would emerge naturally from the people’s will and not from political boardrooms. “There’s no forum where a Luo kingpin is elected. A kingpin will sprout out of nowhere like a mushroom; someone will just emerge and take Raila’s space, but not from his agemates like myself,” he said firmly.

He added that the next wave of leadership in ODM will be determined by public acceptance, not handpicking. “There are young leaders cropping up, and one of them will step up and take that place. But if we handpick somebody and the people do not accept him, then they will still not be kingpin,” Oburu added.

Sources close to the ODM interim boss revealed that he has already sent emissaries to reach out to Babu Owino in a bid to ease tensions and reaffirm his place in the party. Oburu admitted that he had not met Babu personally but insisted that nothing sinister was happening behind the scenes. “Let him relax, there is no problem in ODM,” he said.

Meanwhile, the battle for City Hall is heating up. Governor Johnson Sakaja, who only survived impeachment in September after a delicate balancing act involving both President Ruto and the late Raila Odinga, now faces renewed pressure as ODM reorganizes itself.

With Raila gone, the political tide in Nairobi appears to be shifting fast, and Babu Owino is moving aggressively to occupy the vacuum.

So far, the Nairobi race has drawn in several heavyweights, including Sakaja, former PS Irungu Nyakera, former CS and presidential advisor Moses Kuria, and Embakasi North MP James Gakuya.

But none have generated as much noise or captured the youth vote like Babu, who has vowed to “take over the city and clean it up.”

As 2027 draws closer, all eyes will be on whether Babu Owino’s trust in Oburu’s promise will hold or if he will bolt from ODM to chart his own path. What is clear is that the battle for Nairobi has already begun, and ODM’s unity will be tested in the fiercest political showdown the capital has seen in years.

A close friend of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Oketch Salah, has disclosed new details about the veteran politician’s final political vision, saying that he had confided in him during their stay in India that he intended to strengthen the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as part of a broader plan to endorse President William Ruto for re-election in 2027.

Speaking during an ODM consultative meeting at Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga’s home on Friday, October 24, Salah urged supporters in the Nyanza region and across the ODM network to remain part of President Ruto’s broad-based government, arguing that doing so would honour Raila’s wishes and secure the political relevance of his legacy. Salah said Raila envisioned a future where ODM would not merely serve as the opposition but as an active participant in national governance.

“Baba alikuwa anataka kumsport Ruto; alitaka ODM iwe na nguvu ndio aendorse Ruto 2027,” Salah told the gathering, insisting that the late ODM leader’s remarks cautioning members against premature 2027 campaigns were part of a larger strategic plan.

According to him, those statements, which some interpreted as Raila’s last instruction to focus on unity and development, were in fact meant to prepare the ground for a structured endorsement of Ruto’s re-election bid.

Salah recounted his final days with Raila in India, where the former Prime Minister was undergoing treatment. He said Raila repeatedly spoke about his desire to consolidate ODM’s internal unity, broaden its national reach and position the party as a key pillar of Kenya’s political stability. “He was clear that ODM needed to evolve with the times. He told me, ‘Salah, we must make ODM strong and national, not just for elections but for the country’s future,’” he said.

He further described Raila’s political spirit as one deeply inclined toward unity and stability, noting that even in his final months, the former Prime Minister was determined to build bridges across political divides. Salah said Raila believed that aligning with President Ruto’s administration would ensure the country remained cohesive and that ODM would maintain a decisive voice in national affairs.

“Raila understood that Kenya’s politics was shifting,” Salah added. “He wanted ODM to be at the centre of that change, to work with the government of the day rather than fight it. That was his last great political vision.”

Salah warned that if ODM and the Luo community failed to follow Raila’s roadmap and withdraw from the broad-based government, they risked long-term political isolation. He called on party members to rally behind Oburu Odinga and the ODM leadership to sustain Raila’s agenda of cooperation, inclusivity, and continued engagement with President Ruto’s administration.

“He knew that staying close to government was not surrender; it was strategy,” Salah said.

“He wanted to see a Kenya where competition would not translate into division, and where ODM’s ideas would shape policy even from within government.”

The revelation has stirred intense discussion within ODM and among political analysts.

While a section of party loyalists welcomed the statement as consistent with Raila’s recent overtures to State House before his death, others have expressed scepticism.

Political analyst Herman Manyora dismissed the claims, warning ODM members against what he termed “an attempt to rewrite history.” Manyora argued that Raila never publicly announced an endorsement of Ruto and that his commitment to multi-party democracy was rooted in holding power to account.

Nevertheless, Salah’s remarks have added a new dimension to the post-Raila political discourse, coming at a time when ODM is grappling with questions about succession, direction, and unity following the death of its founding leader. They also coincide with growing signals from President Ruto that his administration is open to collaboration with ODM, with the Head of State recently saying that “ODM will either form the next government or be part of it.”

As the debate rages, one thing is clear: Raila Odinga’s influence continues to define Kenya’s political conversation, even in death.

If Salah’s account is accurate, then the former Prime Minister’s final act was not of defiance, but of foresight — a carefully laid plan to keep ODM relevant and Kenya united long after he was gone. Whether the party chooses to follow that path remains the next great test of his enduring legacy.

NAIROBI, Kenya – In a stunning political development that could reshape Kenya’s electoral landscape, President William Ruto is being actively courted to join the Orange Democratic Movement, with Governor Simba Arati making an unprecedented public appeal during Mashujaa Day celebrations that has sent shockwaves through the country’s political establishment.

Speaking at Marani grounds in Kisii County on Monday, Arati, who serves as ODM’s Deputy Party leader, went beyond mere political courtesy to explicitly urge the sitting president to register as a member of the opposition party, framing the audacious proposal as essential to fulfilling the late Raila Odinga’s vision of building a formidable political vehicle capable of delivering transformative governance to Kenyans.

The timing of Arati’s appeal carries profound symbolism.

It came as the nation mourned Raila Odinga, with flags flying at half-mast and moments of silence observed across the country.

Yet rather than eulogizing a political era’s end, the governor painted a picture of continuity and expansion, one where the president himself could become the torchbearer of Raila’s legacy.

“The party has plans of fronting a presidential candidate to enable it either to form the next government, or be in the coalition that will win the election,” Arati declared, putting dissenters on notice while simultaneously leaving the door wide open for Ruto’s entry into ODM ranks.

The statement was carefully calibrated, acknowledging ODM’s presidential ambitions while hinting at coalition possibilities that would naturally accommodate a sitting president.

What makes this political theater particularly intriguing is the broader context. Ruto has been publicly credited with “seeking to strengthen” ODM ahead of the 2027 General Elections, a characterization that would have seemed fantastical just months ago when the president and the opposition appeared locked in perpetual confrontation.

The relationship between State House and Orange House has undergone a metamorphosis that even seasoned political observers struggle to fully comprehend.

The implications of Arati’s proposal extend far beyond individual party membership. Political analysts are already gaming out scenarios where a Ruto-led ODM or a formal UDA-ODM merger could fundamentally alter Kenya’s democratic architecture.

Such a consolidation would create a political juggernaut with unparalleled reach, combining UDA’s Rift Valley stronghold with ODM’s dominance in Nyanza and significant coastal presence.

The proposal has sparked fierce debate about the future of multi-party democracy in Kenya. Critics warn that absorbing the president into ODM, or engineering a merger between the ruling party and the main opposition vehicle, would effectively eliminate meaningful political competition.

The specter of a de facto one-party state looms large in these discussions, evoking memories of Kenya’s authoritarian past when KANU’s hegemony stifled dissent and concentrated power dangerously.

Yet proponents argue that Kenya’s fragmented political landscape, characterized by ethnic coalition building and fleeting party loyalties, has produced governance paralysis.

They point to the current administration’s struggle to implement its agenda amid legislative gridlock and suggest that a grand coalition might provide the stability necessary for transformative policy implementation.

The late Raila Odinga’s shadow looms large over these machinations.

Arati’s speech painted the former prime minister as “a visionary leader, a champion of democracy, and a beacon of hope,” whose legacy demands protection and advancement.

The governor’s assertion that ODM would “commit to carrying forward Baba’s dream” raises profound questions about what that dream actually entailed and whether it included the possibility of his longtime rival inheriting his political machinery.

Raila spent decades building ODM into a formidable opposition force, surviving detention, exile, and numerous electoral disappointments.

His vision encompassed not just party building but fundamental restructuring of Kenya’s governance through devolution, constitutional reform, and expanded democratic space.

Whether folding ODM into the ruling coalition serves or betrays that vision depends largely on one’s perspective about pragmatism versus principle in Kenyan politics.

The proposal also exposes deepening fissures within ODM itself. Recent reports indicate competing factions are already jockeying for position in a post-Raila era, with some leaders wary of becoming junior partners in what would effectively be a Ruto-dominated political arrangement.

The party’s traditional base in Nyanza and coastal regions may resist any perceived capitulation to a president many still view with suspicion.

Kisii County Commissioner Joseph Kibet’s emphasis on voter registration during the same Mashujaa Day event adds another dimension to the unfolding drama.

His appeal for eligible residents to register before the deadline suggests that both national and county officials anticipate significant political realignment ahead of 2027, with control of the expanded voter roll becoming crucial to whatever configuration emerges from current negotiations.

The stark warning Kibet issued to drug traffickers and illicit brew peddlers, promising ruthless government action, underscores the administration’s desire to demonstrate effective governance credentials regardless of political complications.

It is a reminder that policy implementation and service delivery continue even as seismic political realignment discussions occur behind closed doors and occasionally burst into public view.

For President Ruto, the calculus involves weighing the benefits of absorbing a weakened but still significant opposition party against the risks of alienating his UDA base and appearing to abandon the party that brought him to power.

His 2022 victory was predicated partly on a “hustler versus dynasty” narrative that positioned him against establishment figures like Raila. Joining or merging with ODM would require careful reframing of that narrative to maintain credibility with his core supporters.

The international community will watch these developments closely. Kenya’s reputation as East Africa’s most vibrant democracy rests partly on its competitive electoral environment and peaceful power transitions.

Any moves toward consolidating political power, even through ostensibly democratic means, will invite scrutiny about democratic backsliding and the health of Kenya’s institutional framework.

As the 2027 elections approach, Arati’s call for Ruto to join ODM represents more than political theater.

It signals a potential fundamental restructuring of Kenya’s party system, with implications for democratic competition, ethnic coalition building, and the balance between stability and pluralism.

Whether this audacious proposal gains traction or fades into political obscurity will shape Kenyan politics for years to come, determining whether the country moves toward greater consolidation or maintains its tradition of competitive, if often chaotic, multi-party democracy.

The coming months will reveal whether Arati was floating a trial balloon, articulating a consensus view within ODM’s leadership, or simply engaging in the kind of political speculation that thrives in Kenya’s ever-turbulent political environment.

What remains certain is that the late Raila Odinga’s passing has opened space for political reconfiguration that seemed impossible during his lifetime, and ambitious politicians across the spectrum are racing to shape the emerging order to their advantage.

Siaya Governor James Orengo has recalled how the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was denied a state funeral by the government of the late former President Daniel arap Moi.

Speaking during the burial of Raila Odinga at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Bondo, on Sunday, October 19, 2025, Orengo said the government at the time only offered the family a single helicopter instead of full state honours.

“Many years ago, when we requested the government to give Jaramogi a state funeral, they refused,” Orengo said. “All they did was to offer us one helicopter, and we said no. We decided to take Jaramogi to his final resting place in Bondo without the state’s involvement.”

He went on to express gratitude to President William Ruto’s administration for according Raila Odinga a proper state funeral with full military honours, saying it was a first in the Nyanza region.

“I do not take it for granted that Raila has been given a state funeral. This is the first proper one, with full military participation, ever seen in Nyanza,” Orengo said.

“We have lost so many sons in Nyanza. We lost Mboya, we lost Argwings, we lost Ouko, but this is the first time we have seen a state funeral, and I want to thank you for this, and go on record as thanking you.”

Ruto stood with Raila

Orengo’s remarks came shortly after Raila’s elder brother, Oburu Oginga, revealed that President Ruto had played a key role in facilitating the late opposition leader’s medical treatment in India before his death.

Oburu said that when Raila’s health deteriorated, he approached President Ruto for help, and the Head of State immediately agreed to assist.

“From the time I told him Raila was unwell, he stood with us,” Oburu said.

He added that President Ruto kept close contact with the family, checking regularly on Raila’s condition until the day he passed away.

“President kept a vigil, and he always checked on Raila to know what was happening with him. The day Raila died, I first of all called him and told him he was in a very critical condition. I was told by my sister, Akinyi, that Adhiambo had called for India. So I called Adiambo,” Oburu recalled.

President Ruto later directed that Raila be accorded a state burial with full military honours. The Kenya Defence Forces coordinated the funeral, marking a rare moment of unity in Kenya’s political history.