Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o has revealed that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party will field a candidate to challenge William Ruto's presidency in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Monday evening during an interview on TV47, the ODM principal noted that ODM is an independent party and has the right to field a candidate.
Nyong'o stated that the ODM party is still in opposition and, just like any other political party in the country, it would front candidates for all elective positions.
"Yes, our party will field a presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 general elections. Currently, that is the position because the party is an independent one, and it has the right to field a candidate," Nyong'o said.
While he reiterated ODM's plan to front candidates in all elective positions, the governor clarified the party's openness to negotiations or a possible coalition with Ruto's administration ahead of 2027.
"However, if there is a discourse leading up to the elections to do otherwise, we will cross that bridge when the time comes," the ODM principal clarified.
During the interview, Nyong'o also set the record straight on ODM's association with the current administration. According to him, ODM was only participating in government and was not part of it.
He maintained that the current regime was exclusively led by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and other affiliated parties, and that ODM was not among the parties in the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Nyong'o added that ODM was still in the opposition and that it was only engaging with the government on certain matters of national interest and that are of the public good.
"The ODM party is participating in the government without being in the government. The government was formed by the UDA. We cannot change that; it can only be changed during elections," the Governor stated.
Nyong'o's sentiments come on the back of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's remarks, who last week expressed support for the current administration.
Odinga, who spoke on Friday, August 8, during the burial of veteran women's rights champion Phoebe Asiyo, defended ODM's decision to work with Ruto's government.
Raila revealed that his cooperation with Ruto would stretch beyond 2027. "When the right time comes, we will face Kenyans and tell them why we did this and where we want to go," Odinga declared.
"I don't have any doubt, you can make noise the way you want, but we will be able to move beyond 2027. I am confident we will move beyond 2027, and nobody should try to threaten us," he added.
