President William Ruto has once again expressed his desire to continue working with the Orange Democratic (ODM) party ahead of the next general elections.
Speaking on Wednesday, December 17, in Migori, the Head of State publicly declared his intention to enter into a new agreement with the ODM for the formation of a government in 2027.
Ruto, who during the 5th Piny Luo Festival, however, maintained that the party must first unite and rally support to have bargaining power at the negotiating table.
According to him, the leadership must focus on strategising and strengthening ODM, warning that divisions among members could weaken the party.
“I am calling on the ODM party to strategise itself and remain strong. We want a strong ODM so that we can plan Kenyan affairs together,” Ruto said.
He went on to add, “If you make ODM stronger, I will also make my party UDA stronger so that we can meet and form a government through an agreement.”
In his speech, Ruto also reminisced about his time working with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in ODM, reiterating how Odinga contributed to his political success.
According to the Head of State, the former Prime Minister not only helped him grow politically but also played a crucial role in shaping him as Kenya’s fifth president.
"I was a member of ODM, but God made me even more successful so that I can meet with ODM again. Raila is the one who taught us politics. I was his best student, and he immensely contributed to my presidency,” Ruto revealed.
In recent months, Ruto seems to have shifted his political stance towards Raila's ODM. Following Odinga's death, Ruto has positioned himself as a protector of the latter's legacy by weighing in on the party's future.
Just a month ago, Ruto praised ODM as a resilient party, noting that despite Raila's death, the party has managed to remain strong and rise above personal, regional and tribal politics.
Speaking at the ODM Founders' dinner in Mombasa on November 16, Ruto noted that strong national political parties were the foundation of democracy.
