Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga has hinted at the possibility of a presidential bid in 2027 under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Speaking on Wednesday, November 12, Ruth said she possesses the experience and vision required to seek the country’s top office.
“Nothing stops me from contesting for the presidency. I have all it takes. But first, I want to see a vibrant ODM that is a safe space for everyone,” she said.
Ruth, who is the sister of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga, also addressed the question of Luo leadership following his passing.
She maintained that Raila had already put in place measures to ensure the community’s political and cultural continuity.
“Raila knew his time was near, and he worked to organize the community’s leadership. The Luo Nation is not lost. We must do what is in the people’s best interest,” she added.
Ruth also dismissed claims that ODM had been left ‘orphaned’ after Raila’s death, terming such talk a betrayal of the party’s legacy and resilience.
She criticized remarks by Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi and his counterparts, Jared Okello and Mark Nyamita of Nyando and Uriri respectively, who had suggested that the Luo community and ODM members should submit to President William Ruto’s government.
“I have never seen a Luo who proudly calls himself an orphan and expects sympathy. Even in the days of Gor Mahia and Lwanda Magere, we were known to be fighters. When a leader goes down, another must rise. We don’t recoil into an orphan’s corner,” she further said.
Ruth urged ODM supporters to reject self-pity and instead focus on revitalizing the movement that Raila built, noting that ODM must remain a strong national voice of accountability and reform.
“Yes, we are orphaned. But we must move forward. Poverty in your brother’s home cannot make you lose sleep, and our situation will not make President Ruto lose sleep. We must come out with a strong voice,” she stated.
This comes weeks after Ruth fired a warning to the renegades in the ODM party.
Speaking during Raila’s funeral on Sunday, October 19, Ruth noted that her elder brother left the party with the direction to take long before his death.
She revealed that she was sent to pass a message to the ODM membership, adding that Raila’s wish that the party remains one and strong to forge alliances with other like-minded outfits.
“He told me the day before he passed on that ODM must be united and it must be strong. We cannot be having groups within the party. We can’t have another group who thinks it owns the party, and another one wanting to take over Some of you want to take the party you don’t know where it started. The party belongs to all of us,” she said.
