Speaking at the Piny Luo Festival in Migori County on Wednesday, December 17, Ruto urged ODM to strengthen its internal structures as a foundation for possible collaboration.
“I have stated that we will continue with our plans for this country. I know you people are ODM supporters,” Ruto told the crowd.
“I have stated that we will continue with our plans for this country. I know you people are ODM supporters,” Ruto told the crowd.
While hinting at a future partnership beyond the current broad-based arrangement signed between him and the late Raila Odinga in March 2025, he underlined that any new collaboration would be built on solid groundwork.
“You have to make plans yourself and strengthen your ODM party. We want a strong ODM so that we can plan together the leadership of this country. If you make your party strong, I will also make the UDA party strong, and we can then proceed to agree on how we will form the government,” he said.
Ruto paid tribute to Raila Odinga, acknowledging his mentorship and the significant role he played in shaping Ruto’s political journey.
“You have to make plans yourself and strengthen your ODM party. We want a strong ODM so that we can plan together the leadership of this country. If you make your party strong, I will also make the UDA party strong, and we can then proceed to agree on how we will form the government,” he said.
Ruto paid tribute to Raila Odinga, acknowledging his mentorship and the significant role he played in shaping Ruto’s political journey.
“I was an ODM member, but God had His plans, and I took a different path. Raila was our teacher of politics. I was the top student in Raila’s class, and he contributed a lot to my becoming president of Kenya,” he said.
The president also extended an olive branch to his political rivals, inviting them to join his quest to unite the nation and move Kenya forward.
The president also extended an olive branch to his political rivals, inviting them to join his quest to unite the nation and move Kenya forward.
“I also want to ask our friends from across to join us in the journey to move the nation forward,” he said.
Ruto’s remarks come amid allegations from a section of opposition politicians claiming that he has actively sought to undermine ODM ahead of the next elections.
Ruto’s remarks come amid allegations from a section of opposition politicians claiming that he has actively sought to undermine ODM ahead of the next elections.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused Ruto of attempting to destabilize the party from within, stating that the president had once confided in him about plans to weaken ODM.
“Ruto has destroyed ODM, and we are very saddened. He told me that he would finish ODM while I was serving as his deputy,” Gachagua claimed.
The Piny Luo Festival appearance also offered Ruto an opportunity to consolidate support among key voters in Migori County, a region with historical ties to ODM.
The Piny Luo Festival appearance also offered Ruto an opportunity to consolidate support among key voters in Migori County, a region with historical ties to ODM.