The event, dubbed the ODM Founders’ Dinner, marks nearly twenty years since the formation of the formidable ODM Pentagon - one of the most influential political alliances in Kenya’s multiparty history.
Ruto, along with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and former Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala, is expected to reunite with surviving members of the original team in what observers view as the boldest political realignment move since the 2018 Handshake.
MP Junet Mohamed had also indicated that former President Uhuru Kenyatta was invited to attend the event.
The Pentagon was born during the turbulent 2005 constitutional referendum, when Raila Odinga rallied a coalition of regional heavyweights into a formidable force that opposed the government-backed draft constitution.
This grouping- later branded the Pentagon - was key in giving the ODM movement a national character during the 2007 campaigns.
The original team featured Raila Odinga, William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi, the late Joe Nyaga, Najib Balala, and later Charity Ngilu.
Their political energy electrified campaign rallies across the country, uniting regions that had long remained fragmented.
As ODM marks its anniversary, Balala and Ngilu reportedly reflected on Raila’s unmatched ability to build national political movements and nurture young leaders.
Ngilu remarked that it has become increasingly difficult to find leaders with the same cross-regional appeal and political patience that Raila embodied.
Balala, on his part, indicated he was ready to attend ODM’s anniversary events, signalling a rare moment of reconciliation within Kenya’s often-fractious political class.
Ruto’s decision to join the party engagements underscores the political weight of the planned Mombasa gathering.
While the event is framed as a celebration of ODM’s history, political analysts argue that it is also a strategic move by both Ruto and ODM’s current leadership under Senator Oburu Oginga.
The reunion is being interpreted as an attempt to craft a grand coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election. With Raila's demise, ODM is grappling with succession questions, internal reorganisation, and the need to remain relevant in a competitive political environment.
Ruto’s presence at an ODM founders’ event suggests an emerging political understanding - one that could redraw alliances and unsettle both government and opposition strongholds.
The Pentagon’s influence peaked in 2007 but began to crack soon after the disputed general election.
Trust among its members declined sharply as everyone sought political footholds in a rapidly shifting landscape.
For ODM, which is navigating internal reorganisation after Raila’s exit from active politics, reviving the camaraderie of the Pentagon era may offer a pathway to regenerate its national influence.
