Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda has declared that President William Ruto should officially take over the ODM Party and lead a joint ticket in the 2027 General Election.
In an update on Monday, October 20, the MP said it was time for Ruto to consolidate political unity by heading a coalition that brings together ODM, Ford-Kenya, UDM, KANU, and other allied parties ahead of the next polls.
“For those who don’t know or should know early, the joint UDA/ODM, Ford-K, UDM, KANU, and other coalition parties’ 2027-2032 candidate is President Ruto. It’s time for President Ruto to officially take over the ODM Party and lead a joint ticket in 2027,” he said.
Jhanda also took a swipe at ODM Secretary General, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, accusing him of misrepresenting facts within the party.
“Edwin Sifuna’s era of misrepresenting facts in ODM is over. The party must return to truth, unity, and purpose,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kisii Governor Simba Arati echoed a similar sentiment, urging Ruto to consider returning to his former party, ODM.
“The President yesterday said he is going to ensure that ODM remains the party it is. I want to urge him today, you were a founding member of ODM. How I wish that you come back to your former party.
“If you came back to ODM, then we would have you as our flag bearer. If you came back, we would fulfil the promise Baba had a vision for,” he said during Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kisii County on Monday.
Notably, speaking during Raila Odinga’s funeral on Sunday, October 19, Ruto hinted at partnering with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in the 2027 General Election to form the next government.
He said he would not stand by and watch the ODM party crumble under political divisions, and urged politicians seeking to destabilize the party to desist.
“By the grace of God, ODM will either form the government or be part of the next government. What I cannot allow, out of respect for Raila, and I will do everything I can with God’s help, is for those who want to destroy the ODM party and go play opposition politics outside. That will not happen,” he said.
Elsewhere, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi declared that the ODM Party will remain in government until 2027 and beyond.
Speaking on Friday, October 17, Wandayi affirmed that the late ODM leader Raila Odinga entrusted them to continue working within the government led by President William Ruto.
“Baba has left us in government led by President Ruto and that is where we are going to stay till the end. I can dare say with no fear of contradiction that we shall walk step by step with President Ruto to the end, now and beyond 2027,” he said.
