What ODM leaders want from Ruto in exchange for support in 2027

With political realignments for 2027 elections taking shape, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has made it clear to President William Ruto that the party supporting his bid will not come cheap, with party bigwigs demanding more in exchange for the support.

Party bigshots have tabled concrete demands to Ruto, making it clear that ODM’s support is tied to these demands while also indicating that the party has its options open, including the possibility of fielding a presidential candidate.

The demands which have only increased in recent days are aligned with the reality of Kenyan politics that political support is negotiated, not gifted.

They also test Ruto’s ability to navigate the murky political waters and make compromises while also balancing political ambitions and survival in a contest that is turning out to be unpredictable.

Leader of Minority in Parliament Junet Mohamed is the latest to add his voice to the conversation, making it clear that support for President Ruto will come with conditions.

Speaking when ODM party leadership visited the home of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo to condole with the family, the Suna East MP told President Ruto to outline positions that ODM will get.

Kisumu County Woman Representative Ruth Odinga who is also the younger sister to partly leader Oburu Odinga captured the wishes of many politicians within the outfit when she declared greater stake in the next government.

“We are not content with just two cabinet slots. We demand a greater stake in the next government,” Ruth asserted, making it clear that the slots allocated to the party under the current arrangement as well as the development witnessed in ODM strongholds may is not sufficient.

ODM has confirmed its position that it is keen on capturing power and any arrangement that wants its support must in return give the party the Deputy President position.

While hinting at the possibility of the party not fielding a presidential candidate, party leader Oburu Odinga made it clear that ODM will settle for nothing less than the DP slot

The party has been sending mixed signals on its position on 2027 elections with some noting that the main aim of any political party is to capture power and as such, ODM should field candidates in all elective positions including the presidency.

Winnie Odinga is among those who believe that the party should strengthen its structures and field a candidate as she explained recently.

Amid the rising demand, another narrative championed by those serving in the broad-based government has emerged.

They hold it that the matter of who ODM will support is a foregone conclusion, basing their position on the fact that at the time of Raila's death, the party was in the broad-based government arrangement with the full support of its departed leader.