Live update: Senators discuss governors snubbing summons
Kisii County Governor Simba Arati during the interview at his Lavington office in Nairobi on January 9, 2026.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) co-deputy party leader and Kisii Governor Simba Arati says that backing President William Ruto’s re-election remains the party’s most viable option in the 2027 elections.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Nation, Mr Arati asserted that ODM is not ready to repeat past mistakes that confined it to the opposition benches. He described the United Opposition as a coalition of political figures lacking the strength to unseat President Ruto.
He said ODM is prepared to enter a coalition agreement with Dr Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as part of a broader strategy to form the next government.
Dismissing challenges to Dr Oburu Oginga’s leadership—the late Raila Odinga’s successor—Mr Arati said the party remains firmly in control going into the 2027 polls. He argued that those scheming to “hijack” the party are daydreaming, noting that ODM has well-established structures and organs for decision-making.
He also addressed internal tensions, as a faction led by Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna calls for a National Delegates Conference (NDC) to decide whether the party should back President Ruto.
Excerpts from the interview:
How is ODM faring without Raila Odinga?
We face some challenges stabilising the party after Baba’s departure. But ODM is strong, and we aim to make it stronger. Our main focus is to capture power in 2027.
What about factions for and against backing President Ruto?
There is one ODM. Divergent views have always existed, even when Raila was alive. Now we have Dr Oginga leading the party, and we are stabilising the ship.
Regarding Dr Ruto’s second term, we have yet to agree on the approach for 2027, whether through coalition or independently. No party can win presidential elections alone, so we are prepared for a coalition.
In the absence of Raila, can ODM front a candidate?
If today I decided to run, I know I will give President Ruto a run for his money. ODM has capable candidates, including Dr Oburu. But during coalition talks, we will weigh options carefully. Dr Ruto would want a second term, and we will decide strategically.
Would the party consider backing Ruto as its first priority?
Definitely, that is the case. There were 10 points in our deal with UDA; some have been implemented. Why join a team likely to be defeated when our coalition is poised to win? Our party leader brought us into the broad-based government, and we are still part of it. Formalising through a coalition is just a matter of process.
Do opponents threaten party leadership?
They are not ODM officials, except for Sifuna. They cannot take over the party because the party has structures and leadership. Unless the party was in shambles, which is the only time they can say they are taking over. People meeting over a cup of tea and taking photos is a non-issue to us. There is freedom of speech within the party, but the party position is processed through the party organs.
Some of the members have accused Oburu of being in office illegally?
There can never be a vacuum in party leadership. The same party constitution has provisions for officials to serve in acting capacities.
Of course, we are supposed to have our NDC [National Delegates Conference] towards the end of the year, but we may be forced to have it earlier to prove to the country that this is a strong party. There are those who think that after the NDC, the party will disintegrate. It is not possible. The NDC would be just to affirm what the people already know.
Kisii County Governor Simba Arati during the interview at his Lavington office in Nairobi on January 9, 2026.
Has cooperating with President Ruto weakened ODM? Critics of the deal cited poor performance by ODM in Gusii in the November by-elections
Cooperation between the county and national government is crucial for service delivery. Some projects are only possible with presidential approval. I do not regret working with the national government; it benefits our people. Kisii, for example, receives Sh9.8 billion, of which Sh1.9 billion goes to development projects after covering the wage bill and county assembly allocations.
There are Gusii presidential aspirants: Dr Fred Matiang’i and David Maraga. Does this threaten ODM’s influence in the region?
Gusii land has traditionally, in terms of parties ... even when Jubilee was a ruling party, ODM was still beating them. When Uhuru [Kenyatta] was president and one of our sons, who is now running for the president, was the super Cabinet secretary, he was more of a Deputy President then, but Kisiis remained intact in ODM. There would be some feeling that our own is running, but for sure, I can tell you that Kisii will largely remain ODM. There would be an effect indeed if they decide to go the whole hog. But if it is the question of a deputy president or minister, there would be no major shift.
What is your bird’s eye view of the 2027 presidential contest?
Our brothers in the opposition seem not to have the muscles to defeat the broad-based team. We are talking of somebody who was outside government but still defeated us despite being in government through the handshake. He beat us when we had the support of the system. Right now he is properly in office. Opposition has to do a lot of work to dislodge Ruto.
ODM Party leader Dr Oburu Oginga, President William Ruto and ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga share a cake during ODM@20 celebrations at Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa on November 16, 2025
If you see the United Opposition, they are talking about placement of children in school; people see danger if we went that direction. But my major concern at the moment is how we can sort out some of our major challenges. There is an unemployment crisis. We are also facing corruption, not just in the national government but also in the counties. Corruption is what is killing our country.
What do you consider your pet projects as Kisii governor?
I am called Itaya, meaning lamp and source of light. In the health sector, revenue collection at our Level Five Hospital increased from Sh47 million to Sh300 million over three months, while newborn mortality has fallen from 50 per cent to 13-16 per cent.
Kisii Water and Sanitation revenue rose from Sh7 million to Sh20 million monthly. Roads worth Sh1.4 billion are now under construction. The road network I have done so far is more than what was done in the last 10 years of devolution.
We didn’t have bursaries, but I have managed to raise over time Sh250 million. At the moment, I have Sh300 million that I have managed from the budget to give bursaries for needy children to go to school. I have set aside money for ECD learners to receive school milk starting next month. In February, there would be milk for ECD learners.
There was the issue of ghost workers?
We conducted a headcount, removed ghost workers, and reduced the wage bill from 63 per cent to 33 per cent. The national government has adopted our system to verify employees' academic papers.
How is your performance in revenue collection?
The Controller of Budget rated us the best-performing county in revenue collection. There are no county officers collecting cash; all money is collected digitally. We have recorded enhanced revenue collection. We were number one in own-source revenue.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
