President William Ruto has made a fresh political pledge in Kisumu, promising to keep the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM party alive and ensure it continues contributing to Kenya’s development.
Speaking during a church service in Kisumu on Sunday, September 13, 2026, Ruto said Raila’s national political agenda could not easily be replaced, describing himself as a student of the veteran opposition leader.
The President further declared that ODM and his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) are not political competitors but partners in the broad-based government, signalling his intention to maintain the working relationship between the two parties.
“I want to say and to tell you that it may not be possible to replace Raila Amollo Odinga. Raila had an agenda that was national,” Ruto said.
Ruto's remarks come as Kenya's political landscape continues to take shape ahead of the 2027 General Election, with rival political formations seeking to consolidate support across the country.
Also Read: Several injured as chaos erupts at DP Kindiki meeting in Embu
Ruto promises to keep Raila's party alive
The President said he would honour Raila by ensuring ODM survives and continues pursuing an agenda focused on national development.
“In honour of my brother Raila, I will make sure that his party lives on and ensure that his party will build Kenya,” Ruto said.
He also sought to reassure ODM supporters in Raila's political backyard that his administration would continue working with the party despite the former Prime Minister's death.
Ruto said he would spend the week in Kisumu as a national leader and promised to ensure ODM and UDA continued working together.
“Kwa hivyo watu wangu wa Kisumu, mimi niko hapa kwa wiki nzima. Mimi kama kiongozi wa taifa, nikiwa mwanafunzi wa Raila, nataka nihakikishe kuwa tutatembea pamoja. Chama cha ODM na UDA they are not competitors, they are partners in the broad-based government,” he said.
Ruto recalls Raila's role in broad-based government
Ruto also credited Raila with playing a key role in the formation of the broad-based government, saying their discussions were centred on uniting Kenyans and moving away from divisive politics.
The President said the two leaders had agreed that Kenya needed to move beyond political divisions and focus on national unity.
Also Read: Kindiki condemns violence after UDA meeting disrupted in Nembure
“Nataka kuchukua nafasi hii kushukuru sana aliyekuwa kiongozi wa ODM Raila Odinga wakati nilipata nafasi ya kuketi naye na tukakubaliana na yeye ya kwamba ya muhimu ni kuunganisha Wakenya wote na kuondoa siasa ya ubaguzi, chuki,” Ruto said.
The remarks in Kisumu are likely to attract political attention given the importance of ODM's support base in western Kenya and the increasingly competitive political landscape ahead of 2027.
By describing himself as a “student of Raila” and pledging to protect ODM's political legacy, Ruto appeared keen to deepen his connection with the party's supporters while defending the broad-based arrangement.
His declaration that ODM and UDA are partners rather than competitors could also fuel fresh debate over the future of the two parties and whether their cooperation will extend beyond the current administration into the 2027 political contest.
