President William Ruto has assured Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) supporters that his administration will achieve some of the plans that the late Raila Odinga had for them.
The plans include taking them to "Canaan", President Ruto said, making reference to a key campaign slogan by the former prime minister, who died in India in October.
In Biblical narratives, Canaan refers to an ancient historical region in the Levant (modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan), described in the holy book as a "Promised Land" for Israelites, meaning it has aspects that could make people prosper.
For Christians, the name creates a picture of a place that is better than anywhere else.
Mr Odinga, who was nicknamed Joshua akin to the Biblical leader, used the same term and narrative when telling his supporters that he had great plans for them.
Some politicians referred to it as the presidency. But the former ODM boss died before taking his people to Canaan.
For Dr Ruto, however, his reference to the Canaan dream tied it to his own famous Singapore dream. The president said he is determined to make Kenya a first-world country,just like the Asian state.
"Baba (Odinga) told us about the journey to Canaan. The Canaan journey is the Singapore dream," he said.
According to the President, he made the plans alongside the former prime minister. He told leaders to focus on discussions of elevating the economic status of the country and told ODM members to be ready to join him in the party.
"Let us get ready to form a government that has an agenda and plans of taking Kenya to the first world," the president said.
Dr Ruto spoke in Homa Bay when he attended a sports tournament dubbed Genowa Governor's Cup organised by ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga at Raila Odinga Stadium.
He referred to the Canaan dream after Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang said ODM leaders are supporting the same ambitions. The legislator argued that the vision of Singapore was Odinga's ideas.
"The Singapore dream was started by Raila Odinga in 1997. We are ready to support you for our people to get to the new world," Mr Kajwang said.
The senator argued that the region will use different factors to achieve the dream, including relying on the 10-point agenda which the president signed with Odinga.
"We will join hands with our friends and form an alliance that will enable us to achieve the Singapore dream," Mr Kajwang said.
Dr Ruto said, besides leaders, ODM supporters should back his vision of transforming Kenya from its current state to a first-world country.
He recalled when he was with the former ODM leader at the same venue in 2024 and outlined plans that his government then had for Homa Bay, some of which he says he managed to achieve.
"I promised that Homa Bay will have better roads. The county also has Sh 15 billion for affordable housing, markets and hostels. Homa Bay will be at the front and centre of development of the Republic of Kenya," Dr Ruto said.
He said his administration has delivered fish market, Homa Bay town pier, the stadium and rural electrification. He promised to initiate more projects in the region.
Dr Ruto used the opportunity to dismiss his opponents, saying they should only campaign if they have what they can use to defend themselves.
"Some have been in leadership yet they cannot point at what they have done for the people. Leaders are elected based on what one has done," Dr Ruto said.
ODM party leader Oburu Oginga maintained that the party will support the broad-based government until 2027. He said the party will work together with Kenya Kwanza but they will have talks before the election.
"We will negotiate after we get to the next stage. We came through the window but now we are going to come through the door where we will have a bigger share in the government," the Siaya Senator said.
Ms Wanga defended Kenya Kwanza track records saying the president was able to deliver some of the promises he gave residents of Homa Bay. It includes the expansion of Raila Odinga Stadium.
The ODM chairperson accused former President Uhuru Kenyatta of trying to destabilise the Orange party by allegedly using proxies to dilute the influence of ODM.
"We will deal with the issue. We are not taking it lightly," the Homa Bay governor said, adding that Odinga was one of the prominent personalities who attended the annual tournament since it started a decade ago.
