HOMA BAY, Kenya- Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Oginga has declared that the party will not field a presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election and will instead support President William Ruto’s bid for a second term.
Speaking during a church fundraiser at Chiga Catholic Church in Homa Bay Town Constituency on Sunday, Oburu said consultations on the party’s pre-election coalition strategy had been concluded and ODM had resolved to back Ruto in the next election.
“I want to declare it official that ODM will not field a presidential candidate in next year’s General Election. Instead, we are going to support President Ruto to be re-elected for a second term,” Oburu said.
The ODM leader said the decision followed consultations within the party and an assessment of potential coalition partners ahead of the 2027 polls.
He argued that President Ruto had demonstrated goodwill by bringing ODM members into government despite the party not being part of the Kenya Kwanza coalition after the 2022 elections.
Oburu added that the party’s support for Ruto was also informed by ongoing cooperation between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza administration under the broad-based government arrangement.
He urged residents of Nyanza to register as voters in large numbers, saying higher voter turnout would strengthen the region’s influence in national politics.
The announcement marks a significant shift in ODM’s position. In recent months, the party had indicated it was considering coalition options rather than immediately naming a presidential candidate, with Oburu previously stating that the focus would be on strengthening ODM’s bargaining power ahead of the election.
Oburu’s latest remarks are expected to fuel debate within ODM, where some leaders have previously expressed support for the party fielding its own presidential candidate in 2027, while others have favoured a coalition strategy.