Bondo, Siaya County — President William Ruto has declared that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will either form or join Kenya’s next government, calling it a commitment to honour the late Raila Odinga’s legacy.
Speaking at the funeral service of the former Prime Minister at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology on Saturday, Ruto praised his one-time rival as a political mentor whose vision closely mirrored his own.
“The contest was between a teacher and his student,” Ruto said to laughter and applause. “Had Raila won that election, I would have won too, because his plans on housing, health, education and agriculture were the same as mine.”
A Teacher and His Student
The president revealed that after the 2022 General Election, he met Raila privately and promised to address past injustices against him. Their discussions, he said, laid the groundwork for a quiet but meaningful political cooperation that later evolved into an official partnership between ODM and his United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“Raila did not give me any conditions for cooperation,” Ruto said. “Together, we agreed to appoint John Badi as Kenya’s first Finance Minister from Nyanza.”
He pointed to recent economic improvements as a product of that partnership, citing a drop in inflation from 9.6 per cent to 4 per cent and an improved exchange rate from 165 to 129.
“These are results of our joint effort,” he said.
Honouring Raila’s Legacy
Ruto emphasised that political parties remain vital to Kenya’s democracy and vowed to preserve ODM’s place in the country’s political future.
“The future and strength of ODM matter a great deal to me,” the president said. “By God’s grace, ODM will either form the next government or be part of it.”
His remarks were met with cheers from the mourners, who included senior ODM figures, government officials, and international dignitaries gathered to bid farewell to Raila — a man many described as the conscience of Kenya’s democracy.
Calls to Uphold the ODM–UDA Pact
Siaya Governor James Orengo used the occasion to urge the president to honour the 10-point agreement signed between ODM and UDA in March 2025. The pact, he said, was designed to foster inclusive governance and development across regions long neglected by the state.
“Mr President, fulfil the agreement because that will keep the legacy and spirit of Raila burning,” Orengo said.
ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Ososti echoed that call, urging Ruto to ensure the agenda was implemented in full by March 2026 — a deadline Raila himself had insisted on before his death.
“Let us not treat this as a political pact but as a national promise,” Ososti said. “That was Raila’s wish — unity through action.”
A Nation Reflects
As Raila Odinga was laid to rest in his ancestral home of Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, Bondo, tributes from across Kenya and beyond painted a portrait of a leader whose reach extended far beyond politics. For Ruto, the moment was both personal and political — a chance to bridge old divides and cement a partnership that, if kept, could reshape Kenya’s political map.