ODM leader Raila Odinga has announced his commitment to supporting President William Ruto’s administration until the end of its term in 2027 but with clear conditions and a warning that this cooperation does not imply a political merger.
Speaking in an interview with NTV on Sunday from his Karen residence, Odinga emphasized that his decision to work with Ruto was informed by the urgent need to stabilize the country after the 2023 anti-government protests. The demonstrations, largely led by youth disillusioned by high living costs, alleged electoral injustices, and police brutality, left at least 70 people dead.
“In 2023, we were in the streets raising very concrete issues about electoral justice, cost of living and corruption,” Raila recalled. “The government responded with brutality. We lost about 70 people. When we tried to honour them, no judge allowed us to hold a memorial. We eventually did it quietly.”
Odinga said the country was teetering on the brink of crisis, and continued confrontation could have led to widespread chaos. The decision to enter a broad-based dialogue with the government was therefore made in the interest of national peace and stability.
However, he was quick to dismiss any speculation about long-term political realignment with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA). “We have said that we are in the broad-based government until 2027. We did not say that we are going to work with UDA beyond 2027,” he clarified. “Those are issues that we will discuss at the appropriate time, and the decision will be made by party members, not Raila Odinga alone.”
Odinga also stressed that discussions around the 2027 succession should be shelved for now, urging all leaders to focus on service delivery and ensuring the Kenya Kwanza government fulfills its promises to the people.
His remarks signal a temporary détente in Kenya’s often turbulent political landscape, while also preserving ODM’s independence ahead of the next general election.
