President William Ruto has pledged to help preserve the political and development legacy of the late Raila Odinga, telling ODM supporters in Kisumu that the former opposition leader cannot simply be replaced.
Speaking at the Voice of Salvation and Healing Church in Mamboleo on Sunday, Ruto said the focus should instead be on continuing the work and ideas associated with Raila.
“It may not be possible to replace the late Raila Odinga, but we can work to make sure that his legacy is carried on in the development of our nation,” Preident Ruto said.
Preident also sought to underline the growing political relationship between his United Democratic Alliance and Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement.
“I want to assure you that as a student of the late Raila Odinga, I will walk with you,” he said. “ODM and UDA are not competitors but rather collaborators, and I will ensure his legacy lives on.”
The remarks came during the President’s four-day tour of Nyanza, a region that has traditionally been a stronghold of ODM. The visit comes as the two parties deepen their cooperation ahead of the 2027 general election. UDA has previously said it is working towards a closer political arrangement with ODM.
President Ruto used the church service to defend his government’s record, saying he had returned to the region to account for promises made when he took office.
He said the administration inherited an economy facing high debt and inflation but argued that conditions had since improved. He also pointed to projects in roads, agriculture, housing and education as evidence of progress.
On agriculture, President highlighted the government’s fertiliser programme, saying subsidised fertiliser had helped address food-security concerns. He also cited reforms in the sugar, coffee and tea industries.
The President said the government had registered 34 million people under the Social Health Authority, compared with about eight million under the former National Hospital Insurance Fund.
He also linked several major government projects to issues that had featured prominently in Raila’s political agenda, including railway expansion, housing and employment.
President specifically mentioned the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway towards Kisumu and the Uganda border. Construction of the Kisumu-Malaba section was launched in March 2026, with the government describing it as a major regional transport and trade project.
He said the affordable housing programme could also create jobs for young people while expanding access to housing.
Wanga backs broad-based arrangement
ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga, who is also the Homa Bay governor, offered a strong show of support for the party’s current cooperation with the government.
She said ODM remained united and would not be distracted by competing political messages.
“We as ODM are standing as one and nothing is going to divide us, no matter what,” Wanga said.
She pointed to development projects in Luo Nyanza as one reason for continuing with the broad-based arrangement.
“The kind of developments we have seen in Luo Nyanza are reason enough to be in the broad-based government,” she said.
Wanga’s comments come as ODM prepares for a period of intense political activity ahead of the 2027 elections. The party has also announced a programme of activities to commemorate Raila’s life and political legacy in October. (People Daily)
At the same time, ODM has continued to stress that cooperation with Ruto does not mean surrendering control of the party’s political direction. Wanga said earlier this week that ODM would make its own decisions and would not allow outsiders to dictate its future. (The Star)
President Ruto’s latest comments therefore place Raila’s legacy at the centre of an increasingly important political relationship. For the President, the partnership offers a route into a region that has long been difficult territory for his political coalition. For ODM, the challenge is to maintain its identity and influence while working with a government it once opposed.
The political arrangement is still evolving as both sides prepare for the 2027 contest.
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