Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda has declared that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will support President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027, even as the party maintains it has not finalized its plans.
Speaking in a Thursday interview on Citizen TV’s Daybreak program, Ojienda emphasized that the alliance between ODM and Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is firmly anchored in their March 2025 ten-point political agreement. He pointed to the prominent positions ODM allies currently hold in government as evidence of the coalition’s enduring partnership.
“ODM and UDA are converging; otherwise, there would be no need for committees, a 10-point agenda, and ODM cabinet secretaries working closely with President Ruto,” Ojienda said. “The intention is to remain in government for a long, long time.”
While ODM leader Raila Odinga has remained non-committal about his personal 2027 plans, hinting that the party may front a candidate, he urged members not to preempt party decisions. “We have a clear plan that we have agreed on, and let us implement it. Other decisions will be made when the time comes,” Odinga said during the party’s 20th anniversary celebrations.
Ojienda expressed confidence that Odinga will ultimately support Ruto’s second-term bid, describing the ODM leader as a unifying political figure who prioritizes the country’s stability and governance.
He added that discussions on the coalition’s 2027 strategy are ongoing, including negotiations over key positions such as the National Assembly Speaker. According to Ojienda, the main goal remains securing a second term for Ruto, dismissing the opposition formerly led by Odinga as currently “disorganized” and unlikely to pose a serious challenge.
Some senior ODM members, however, have threatened to leave the party if it endorses Ruto, including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, highlighting internal tensions within the party over the potential coalition decision.
