- Raila Odinga says his support for President Ruto is only until 2027.
- He insists ODM has not agreed to work with UDA after this term.
- He urges leaders to avoid early 2027 politics and focus on serving Kenyans.
- Raila says the national dialogue (“conclave”) is for the people, not to protect Ruto.
- He recalls the deadly 2023 protests and accuses the state of blocking memorials.
ODM leader Raila Odinga has said his support for President William Ruto is only for the current term and will end in 2027. This puts to rest the growing speculation that he might endorse Ruto’s second-term bid.
Speaking from his Karen home during an interview with NTV, Raila explained that his working relationship with Ruto’s government is purely meant to keep the country stable during these hard times.
“We are part of the broad-based government until 2027. That’s where the agreement ends,” Raila said.
He made it clear that future decisions will be determined by the ODM party and not by him alone.
Raila shut down the idea that his current cooperation with Ruto means long-term support. He reminded leaders that it’s too early to start talking about 2027 campaigns when the country is still facing major problems.
He urged leaders to shift their focus to real service delivery instead of chasing political seats.
“We should deliver first. Talking about 2027 now will only distract the nation,” he added.
Raila’s comments follow a signed agreement with Ruto that happened on March 7, 2025, during an event held at the KICC.
Raila’s closeness to Ruto in recent months has raised eyebrows, with some speculating that a deeper alliance is in the works. However, he insisted that what is happening is not a political merger.
He said that ODM’s next move will be shaped by the party structures, not individual interests.
“This is not about Raila or Ruto, it’s about Kenya,” he said.
His stand is likely to spark fresh debate within both the Azimio and Kenya Kwanza camps. Analysts say it might mean Raila is preparing for a different strategy in the next election.
Raila also discussed the “conclave,” a national dialogue initiative. He said the process is meant to bring solutions to Kenya’s major issues and is not meant to shield the president politically.
“This is the people’s process. Chanting ‘Ruto must go’ won’t solve anything. We must address real issues,” he said.
The forum is expected to tackle long-standing problems such as unfair elections, rising youth joblessness, and poor economic conditions. These same problems sparked the deadly protests seen in 2023.
Reflecting on last year’s chaos, Raila accused the state of using brutal force on peaceful protesters. He says over 70 lives were lost, and families have yet to receive justice.
He also accused the government of stopping public memorials for the victims, forcing families to mourn in silence.
“We protested for justice. Instead, we were attacked. Even when we tried to honour those who died, no judge allowed it. That pain remains,” he said.
When pressed on whether he plans to vie for the presidency in 2027, Raila refused to give a clear answer.
“That’s a decision for another time,” he said simply.
While some in Azimio want him to give the presidency one more try, Raila continues to stay quiet on his next move, keeping many guessing.
