KISUMU, Kenya — President William Ruto has pledged to work with ODM leaders and supporters to preserve the development legacy of the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, declaring that ODM and UDA are partners rather than political competitors.
Ruto said Raila could not simply be replaced, but his vision for Kenya could be sustained through development and cooperation.
“It may not be possible to replace the late Raila Odinga, but we can work to make sure that his legacy is carried on in the development of our nation,” Ruto said.
The President spoke on Sunday at the Voice of Salvation and Healing Church in Mamboleo, Kisumu, where he sought to reassure ODM supporters of his commitment to working with them under the broad-based government arrangement.
Ruto calls himself a student of Raila
Ruto described himself as a student of the late opposition chief and said he would continue working closely with ODM supporters.
“I want to assure you that as a student of the late Raila Odinga, I will walk with you. ODM and UDA are not competitors but rather collaborators, and I will ensure his legacy lives on,” he said.
The remarks reinforce Ruto’s continued effort to frame the relationship between the ruling UDA and ODM around cooperation and development rather than traditional government-opposition rivalry.
Ruto’s comments also come amid continued political debate within ODM over the party’s future direction following Raila’s death.
President says economy has stabilised
Ruto said his return to Kisumu was also intended to account for promises he made to Kenyans four years ago.
He argued that his administration had made significant progress despite inheriting an economy he described as burdened by debt and high inflation.
“We had an economy that was burdened with a lot of debts and inflation was high, but I can now confidently say our economy is stable and today the economy is the sixth largest economy in Africa,” he said.
The President also highlighted road construction, saying the government had made progress in implementing road projects across the country.
He cited agriculture as another area where his administration had introduced reforms, particularly through efforts to improve food security and make fertiliser more affordable.
According to Ruto, farmers can access fertiliser at Sh2,000, while reforms have also been introduced in the sugar, coffee and tea sectors to improve production and returns.
Ruto highlights education and SHA
On education, Ruto said his administration had transformed and stabilised the country’s education system.
He also highlighted the Social Health Authority (SHA) as a major achievement of his government.
Ruto said SHA had registered 34 million Kenyans, compared with about eight million people covered under the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The President presented the reforms as part of his administration’s broader effort to expand access to essential public services.
Ruto links projects to Raila’s legacy
Ruto also linked some of his administration’s flagship development projects to issues that had featured prominently in Raila’s political and development agenda.
He cited the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), affordable housing and job creation as programmes he believed Raila would have welcomed.
“There are three things that the late Raila Odinga would be proud of. One is the Standard Gauge Railway, which has started from Narok to Kisumu. Another programme is the creation of jobs through the housing project,” he said.
Ruto described the affordable housing programme as a major development initiative that could create employment for young people while expanding access to decent housing.
His remarks sought to place the government’s development agenda within a broader narrative of continuity with some of Raila’s long-standing policy priorities.
Wanga says ODM remains united
Ruto’s remarks came as ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga insisted that the party remained united and would not be swayed by what she described as mixed political signals.
“We as ODM are standing as one and nothing is going to divide us, no matter what,” Wanga said.
The Homa Bay Governor defended ODM’s continued participation in the broad-based government arrangement, pointing to development projects being implemented in Luo Nyanza.
She said the projects were sufficient reason for the region to continue supporting the partnership.
“The kind of developments we have seen in Luo Nyanza are reason enough to be in the broad-based government. Tomorrow you will see why we stand as a community,” she said.
Wanga warns against ‘mixed signals’
Wanga also warned individuals seeking to persuade ODM supporters to abandon the arrangement that the party would remain focused on its current position.
“People who are trying to give us mixed signals are people we are not going to listen to, no matter what,” she said.
