- ODM leader Raila Odinga says no decision has been made about the 2027 presidential race.
- Warns members not to commit the party to unapproved deals.
- Defends ODM’s pact with UDA, saying it was for stability, not surrender.
- Praise reduced political tension and progress on joint initiatives.
- Urges ODM members not to feel ashamed of working with Ruto.
ODM party leader Raila Odinga has dismissed speculation that his party may skip the 2027 presidential race. Speaking in Machakos during an ODM Parliamentary Group meeting on Monday, Raila said no such resolution had been made.
“So, wherever you are, don’t commit the party to some things which have not been discussed. Let those things be discussed first. We are ODM. Who’s told you that ODM will not have a candidate in 2027, who has told you,” Raila stated.
He emphasised that ODM has its own plan and will decide on its candidate when the right time comes.
Raila clarified that ODM’s agreement with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) earlier this year was not about giving up ODM’s political future but about creating stability and tackling national issues.
“We have a clear plan that we have negotiated, and we have agreed on. And let us continue to implement that plan. Other decisions we’ll take when the time comes,” he said.
The remarks come after Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o insisted that ODM will field a presidential candidate in 2027.
Defending ODM’s cooperation with the government, Raila said the move had already delivered results, including stability, reduced political tensions, and progress on the NADCO report and the national budget.
“This far, a core agenda of our coming together has been achieved. We have a stable and peaceful country. We beat up the chaos and created an environment where we could agree to disagree without fights,” he explained.
He praised ODM MPs for fostering a working relationship with the government, saying compromise was necessary to prevent unrest.
Raila further urged ODM members not to feel embarrassed about working with President Ruto, describing the cooperation as a patriotic act in the interest of the country.
“Whatever differences we have, as parties or leaders, we must have the country first,” he said.
A recent TIFA survey shows support for the broad-based government has risen by 7 per cent, signalling growing public approval of the partnership.
