What was billed as a show of unity ahead of President William Ruto’s four-day tour of Luo Nyanza quickly became a stage for political positioning, competing loyalties and a catalogue of demands from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The message from the grassroots and elected leaders appeared simple: they were ready to back the Kenya Kwanza leader for a second term in exchange for development and political consideration.
But beneath the applause lay a more complicated reality of a region still searching for its political bearings one year after the death of its supremo, Raila Odinga .
The leaders’ demands ranged from a 50-50 share of government to the Deputy President’s position in 2027, while others insisted that Nyanza must remain an ODM stronghold and warned President Ruto against interfering in the region’s internal political contests.
President William Ruto addresses residents at Nyamasaria during his development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
A grassroots leaders meeting on Sunday provided a revealing glimpse into how the Head of State is attempting to navigate Nyanza politics in a post-Raila era, while local leaders seek to establish their own terms for the political partnership.
By 6am on Sunday, more than 10,000 grassroots leaders from across Nyanza had lined up, waiting to access Kisumu State Lodge. They were later redirected to the Kisumu Shipyard area and Kisumu Port, where security had been significantly tightened.
President Ruto arrived around 2pm to a warm reception from thousands of supporters, many wearing a mixture of ODM and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party branded caps and merchandise.
More than 30 Members of Parliament (MPs) and three governors from the region attended. Siaya Governor James Orengo was the notable absentee, having joined the Linda Mwananchi rally in Nairobi.
But once the grassroots and elected leaders took the microphone, the political temperature rose.
Although there was broad agreement on supporting President Ruto’s re-election, the conditions attached to that support differed sharply, exposing the fault lines running through a region whose political order has been unsettled by the death of Raila Odinga.
Dan Nyibule, speaking on behalf of the youth, used his address to push the first major political demand that Nyanza should be considered for the Deputy President’s position in the next government.
“We are a region that has walked with you in this journey and therefore believe we deserve the position of the Deputy President in the next government. If there is a person you should consider for this position is your Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi for the position,” said Mr Nyibule.
The women’s representative offered a different proposition, arguing that women had the numbers and should therefore be considered for the running mate’s position in 2027.
The succession debate was taken a step further by the CS for national treasury John Mbadi, who presented himself as the senior-most contender, citing his experience in government, Parliament, the opposition and ODM. Mr Mbadi also appeared to plant an early flag for the 2032 succession contest.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi addresses residents of Kisumu West Constituency during President William Ruto’s development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
“I know I have my brothers and sisters who are interested in this position too but having worked under Raila, worked as majority leader, ODM chairman, assistant minister, a CS, I can only go higher and allow me to lead the country,” said Mr Mbadi.
Beyond the question of who should occupy the Deputy President’s office, ODM leaders demanded a 50-50 share of government and insisted that Nyanza must retain its identity as an ODM zone.
He ordered those wearing UDA caps to lower them insisting that Nyanza’s political identity remained firmly rooted in ODM.
“People of Nyanza, you are aware Raila instructed us to remain with Ruto in the broad-based government. I am asking those waving the UDA caps here to lower them down. As the Deputy party leader, I want to tell you that here in Nyanza we must remain in ODM to be respected. We have told Ruto that we also demand 50-50 sharing of government,” said Mr Arati who is Kisii governor.
Mr Arati also sought to reassure aspirants that ODM would manage its own internal contest, promising a free and fair nomination process before presenting one candidate to President Ruto.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati addresses residents of Kisumu West Constituency during President William Ruto’s development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
“We will plan ourselves, just leave it to us, but I want to promise all candidates that we will have a free and fair nomination process. We must have more than 100 MPs for our numbers to count,” said Mr Arati.
Ugenya MP David Ochieng, who is also the Movement for Democracy and Growth Party Leader, warned President Ruto against leaving Nyanza exclusively to ODM, arguing that other political formations would be crucial in delivering votes for the President.
“As MDG we shall be there to face the ODM Party so that we get maximum votes for Ruto while at the same time get the best crop of leadership from MCAs, MPs and Governors,” said Mr Ochieng.
Uriri MP Mr Mark Nyamita delivered another warning, asking the President to stay out of the region’s internal political contests.
“We will support you in your re-election but down here do not interfere, let us compete fairly among ourselves so that leaders who never worked for the people go home,” said Mr Nyamita.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, who has been branded a rebel and a fence sitter, also faced the anger of some attendees, who heckled her throughout her speech.
With political temperatures rising, Raila Odinga Junior was given an opportunity to speak and sought to bring the gathering back to his father’s central message of unity.
“You had a shared vision with Baba Raila of development not just in Nyanza but the whole of Kenya, therefore, I am behind you fully. What I want to tell our people is what Baba asked of us before he died if we remain united as a community. For us to do that we should all be in ODM,” said Raila Junior.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, meanwhile, made it clear that ODM would not enter into an alliance with a political formation associated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
President Ruto, perhaps sensing the competing currents beneath the gathering, moved to reassure the leaders that their demands had been heard.
President William Ruto unveils a plaque to mark the launch of the Rabuor-Chiga Road in Nyando Constituency on September 14, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
He asked them to continue walking with him, promising that ODM and UDA would negotiate from a position of familiarity when the time came to shape the 2027 political arrangement.
“I plead with you to walk with me. Do not worry, when ODM and UDA sit down to talk to form the 2027 government, you will be negotiating with a familiar face and not a stranger because I am a former Deputy Party Leader of ODM,” said Dr Ruto.
The President also sought to cast himself as the political custodian of Raila Odinga’s unfinished development agenda, arguing that the broad-based government had enabled him to implement projects that were central to his former political ally’s vision.
“Raila believed in the things some people called shiny things because he believed they transform this country. Where he is, he is proud because I am implementing projects that were at the heart of his vision and manifesto. I can proudly stand before Nyanza people today that because of broad-based, we have made progress,” said the president.
On Monday, Dr Ruto said Kenya has no space for leaders bent on causing chaos, violence or instability to advance their political interests.
He explained that this is the surest way of creating a conducive environment for growing the economy and lifting Kenyans out of poverty.
He told the opposition that they are in for a rude shock if they continue with outdated politics characterised by empty rhetoric, tribalism, divisiveness and violence.
“We have raised the bar of leadership in Kenya. It is not about personalities; it is about the people," he said. he urged the opposition to present their agenda to the people, saying they do not have a chance in the 2027 election if they have none.
“If you do not have an agenda, we will defeat you early in the morning,” he said.
He explained that the Government has allocated Sh23 billion to build eight new roads, covering 270km, to expand the road network, improve connectivity and unlock its full economic potential.
President Ruto also announced that Sh44 billion has been invested in the Affordable Housing Programme to build 12,000 housing units, 20 modern markets and student hostels with a capacity of accommodating 12,000 beds.
At the same time, the President commissioned the Sh8.4 billion Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project in Kisumu City.
