Deputy President William Ruto showered rare praise on the ODM party stating that it was the only other party in the country that had a national presence that could match the Hustler Movement.
Speaking during an interview on Thursday, March 25, the DP stated that the other parties in the country were tribal groupings with very little influence.
"These other small parties are tribal groupings that do not pose a serious challenge to the growing Hustler movement. The only party that is formidable is ODM. That I can acknowledge," he noted.
He made the sentiments, just hours after an earlier interview where he stated that he was open to working with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
During the Thursday afternoon interview, however, DP Ruto remained non-committal on the possibility of working with Odinga.
After his earlier sentiment, the ODM party released a statement signaling that the party was open to coalition talks.
The party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna stated that the party was looking to form a new alliance with clear ideological positions on the issues of the day.
"We are focused on an alliance that adds to the national discourse not what it gets, a coalition that adds not takes away from us.
"But it is not just coalitions and alliances we are working on. We are strengthening ourselves as a party and preparing to compete everywhere in the country," he noted
When being questioned on whether he was alone in political purgatory, DP Ruto stated that the hustler movement had mobilised more than 140 MPs.
"The hustler movement is larger than any other political outfit. Raila can only put together maybe 80 MPs, Wiper Party 20 and Wetangula 10. Yesterday, I mobilised over 140 MPs here, no other politician can do that," Ruto stated.
"There's a perception in Kenya unless you are working with certain leaders whose fathers are well known, then you are working alone, which is not the case for me," the DP added.
He went on to christen the One Kenya Alliance, bringing together Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula, Gideon Moi, and Musalia Mudavadi as a "cerelac coalition" waiting to be given political power instead of competing.
