The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) still has its sights set on the Deputy President’s position in its political arrangement with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Speaking in Garissa, ODM deputy party leader and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the party would support President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027, but would insist on producing his running mate.
“ODM as a party is supporting the re-election of President William Ruto but his deputy must be from our party. We shall only give the first position to President Ruto and the second position shall remain with ODM,” Mr Nassir said.
He proposed Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho as a possible running mate for Dr Ruto in the August 2027 General Election.
Mr Joho, however, signalled that ODM’s ambitions extended beyond the next election, declaring that the party was positioning itself to produce a presidential candidate in 2032.
“ODM is a party of the future. You will be counted in the future only if you joined ODM. This party shall produce the president in 2032. The future is in ODM,” he said.
Mr Joho said the party had several members capable of leading the country and urged members to remain united amid widening divisions over ODM’s cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“We have all that other people possess out there. ODM has people who can be presidents in 2032,” he said.
He defended the broad-based government arrangement, arguing that it had promoted equitable development across the country. He urged voters to re-elect Dr Ruto, warning that a change of government could reverse the gains made under the current administration.
ODM leaders during a rally in Garissa town on October 18, 2026.
Photo credit: Manase Otsialo | Nation Media Group
“President Ruto has ensured development has reached every corner of our country. We have people threatening to reverse all these once they get into power,” Mr Joho said.
Raila Odinga Junior, the son of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga, called for unity and tolerance within the party, saying disagreements should be resolved internally rather than prompting members to leave. He said ODM remained a national party founded on the principle of inclusion.
“We are in ODM and we are here to stay. From the family of Odinga, we are taking every member of ODM seriously. I believe ODM birthed devolution that has changed lives and, as Baba’s son, I am in ODM, a party that is steady,” he said.
“If anything goes wrong in the party, there is no need to run away but instead stay and have it solved within. ODM is not a party for the Luo community but for every Kenyan, and that is what Baba believed in when he formed it,” he added.
His remarks came amid growing differences within ODM over its continued cooperation with Dr Ruto’s administration, with some leaders questioning the arrangement and others insisting that the party should remain in government.
Conditional support for Ruto
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed warned those seeking to undermine ODM through alternative political formations, saying the party remained committed to the broad-based government arrangement.
“Baba left us with two things, the ODM party and a broad-based government. We are focused on promoting our party, and those with alternative parties should concentrate on their own party affairs and keep off ODM,” he said.
Mr Mohamed said ODM members had a responsibility to preserve the party’s national character following Raila’s death in October 2025.
He also defended ODM’s role in the broad-based government, arguing that UDA could not form a government on its own and needed the orange party’s support to secure victory in the 2027 elections.
Mr Mohamed appeared to take aim at Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale, who has recently sought to popularise UDA in Garissa and the wider North Eastern region despite resistance from some local leaders.
“UDA cannot form a government alone. UDA needs ODM to win the 2027 elections and form a government. If they could form a government, why did they call us to help them? ” he said.
He also cautioned local politicians against forming small parties, arguing that candidates elected on national party tickets would have greater influence in Parliament.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi accused those who had left ODM of seeking new political sponsors following Raila’s death, saying those who remained would uphold the values he had championed.
“Those of us who believed in Raila Odinga’s hard work have remained in the party, and those who left were in the party for convenience,” he said.
“They are looking for a sponsor after Baba left, but we shall remain with the integrity that our party leader taught us,” he added.
ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga said support for President Ruto was conditional on the implementation of agreements between the two parties and the principles championed by Raila, particularly equitable development.
“We decided to support President Ruto on condition that he implements what our party leader believed in, including equity to all. We want to see equal development across the country because this is what our party leader believed,” she said.
