Ruth Odinga: Why We Cannot Join Ruto’s Two-Term Chorus

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has reaffirmed that it is only ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga who will ultimately determine the party’s political direction ahead of the 2027 General Election, including whether to back President William Ruto’s re-election bid.

Speaking during the Sigand Nyinam convention in Migori County on Thursday, September 25, Ms. Odinga cautioned against premature speculation on ODM’s stance, stressing that the decision rests with the party leader.

“As things stand, we cannot join the two-term chorus. That will be at the behest of our Party Leader, the Right Honourable Raila Odinga, come 2027,” she said.

Her remarks come barely weeks after she faulted Nairobi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) for abandoning the impeachment of Governor Johnson Sakaja midway.

At the time, Ms. Odinga lamented that the decision undermined the oversight role of county assemblies and weakened the devolution process.

“Once you declare you have no confidence in a governor, you must follow through. Halting midway after a peace deal dishonors the constitutional mandate of MCAs,” she remarked then.

That impeachment process was suspended following a peace deal brokered between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Raila speaks, ODM listens

If Ruth’s tone was one of caution and fidelity to party structures, Raila Odinga himself has been more direct in recent days. Speaking during an ODM Parliamentary Group meeting, the veteran opposition leader dismissed growing speculation that the party was warming up to backing Ruto’s re-election.

Also Read: Why Kenyans Want Raila Back in Opposition to Face Ruto

“We are ODM. Who told you we won’t have a candidate in 2027?” Raila asked pointedly, rebuking MPs who appeared eager to commit the party prematurely.

He went on to emphasize that ODM had made no binding deal with Ruto’s administration, stressing that decisions about the party’s future would only be made through its established organs.

“No one should purport to speak for ODM outside of our structures. The question of 2027 will be settled by the party, not by individual politicians chasing headlines,” Raila added.

The larger political dance

Political observers note that these carefully calibrated statements are part of ODM’s strategy to maintain its flexibility.

Raila’s new diplomatic posture with Ruto, which includes brokering peace deals and encouraging bipartisan cooperation, has unsettled both allies and rivals.

For supporters accustomed to Raila’s role as the loudest critic of government excesses, the sight of ODM working in tandem with State House is confusing.

Yet, as Ruth Odinga’s reminder underscores, Raila remains the final word in ODM’s political script. Whether the party will rally behind him for another run, field a new candidate, or eventually cut a deal with Ruto is a question that only Raila can answer.

For now, Ruth insists, speculation is just that – speculation.

“Our leader has spoken, and we will follow his guidance. The future of ODM is not something to be decided in press conferences or rallies. It is in the hands of our Party Leader,” she affirmed in Migori.

Also Read: Why More Kenyans Back Ruto, Raila Deal

The setting of Ruth’s latest remarks — the Sigand Nyinam convention — was itself symbolic. The gathering brought together elected and nominated women leaders from Luo Nyanza to address social ills, including teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, and the spread of HIV. Leaders present included ODM Party National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, Homa Bay Governor, and Migori County MP Fatuma Mohammed, Siaya County MP Dr. Christine Ombaka, and Kabondo-Kasipul MP Hon. Dr. Eve Obara, among others.

In her speech, Ruth linked the empowerment of women to the broader political struggle for voice and representation. The subtext was unmistakable: just as women must claim their place in society, ODM must also claim its space in the political arena without being overshadowed by State House overtures.

Looking ahead

As 2027 draws nearer, ODM finds itself at a crossroads. Raila Odinga’s word remains law within the party, but the drumbeats of succession and shifting alliances grow louder with each passing month.

Ruth Odinga’s interventions — sharp, unapologetic, and rooted in loyalty to her brother — may well be seen as part of a broader campaign to remind ODM’s base that Raila’s authority is non-negotiable.

For now, the message from both siblings is consistent: ODM will not be dragged into the “two-term chorus” for President Ruto, and the party’s presidential candidate –  whether Raila himself or another flagbearer – will be decided internally.

Until then, the script remains unwritten. And as Ruth Odinga insists, only one man holds the pen.

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