Ruto Asked To Rejoin ODM Party As UDA Merger Is Hinted

NAIROBI, Kenya – In a stunning political development that could reshape Kenya’s electoral landscape, President William Ruto is being actively courted to join the Orange Democratic Movement, with Governor Simba Arati making an unprecedented public appeal during Mashujaa Day celebrations that has sent shockwaves through the country’s political establishment.

Speaking at Marani grounds in Kisii County on Monday, Arati, who serves as ODM’s Deputy Party leader, went beyond mere political courtesy to explicitly urge the sitting president to register as a member of the opposition party, framing the audacious proposal as essential to fulfilling the late Raila Odinga’s vision of building a formidable political vehicle capable of delivering transformative governance to Kenyans.

The timing of Arati’s appeal carries profound symbolism.

It came as the nation mourned Raila Odinga, with flags flying at half-mast and moments of silence observed across the country.

Yet rather than eulogizing a political era’s end, the governor painted a picture of continuity and expansion, one where the president himself could become the torchbearer of Raila’s legacy.

“The party has plans of fronting a presidential candidate to enable it either to form the next government, or be in the coalition that will win the election,” Arati declared, putting dissenters on notice while simultaneously leaving the door wide open for Ruto’s entry into ODM ranks.

The statement was carefully calibrated, acknowledging ODM’s presidential ambitions while hinting at coalition possibilities that would naturally accommodate a sitting president.

What makes this political theater particularly intriguing is the broader context. Ruto has been publicly credited with “seeking to strengthen” ODM ahead of the 2027 General Elections, a characterization that would have seemed fantastical just months ago when the president and the opposition appeared locked in perpetual confrontation.

The relationship between State House and Orange House has undergone a metamorphosis that even seasoned political observers struggle to fully comprehend.

The implications of Arati’s proposal extend far beyond individual party membership. Political analysts are already gaming out scenarios where a Ruto-led ODM or a formal UDA-ODM merger could fundamentally alter Kenya’s democratic architecture.

Such a consolidation would create a political juggernaut with unparalleled reach, combining UDA’s Rift Valley stronghold with ODM’s dominance in Nyanza and significant coastal presence.

The proposal has sparked fierce debate about the future of multi-party democracy in Kenya. Critics warn that absorbing the president into ODM, or engineering a merger between the ruling party and the main opposition vehicle, would effectively eliminate meaningful political competition.

The specter of a de facto one-party state looms large in these discussions, evoking memories of Kenya’s authoritarian past when KANU’s hegemony stifled dissent and concentrated power dangerously.

Yet proponents argue that Kenya’s fragmented political landscape, characterized by ethnic coalition building and fleeting party loyalties, has produced governance paralysis.

They point to the current administration’s struggle to implement its agenda amid legislative gridlock and suggest that a grand coalition might provide the stability necessary for transformative policy implementation.

The late Raila Odinga’s shadow looms large over these machinations.

Arati’s speech painted the former prime minister as “a visionary leader, a champion of democracy, and a beacon of hope,” whose legacy demands protection and advancement.

The governor’s assertion that ODM would “commit to carrying forward Baba’s dream” raises profound questions about what that dream actually entailed and whether it included the possibility of his longtime rival inheriting his political machinery.

Raila spent decades building ODM into a formidable opposition force, surviving detention, exile, and numerous electoral disappointments.

His vision encompassed not just party building but fundamental restructuring of Kenya’s governance through devolution, constitutional reform, and expanded democratic space.

Whether folding ODM into the ruling coalition serves or betrays that vision depends largely on one’s perspective about pragmatism versus principle in Kenyan politics.

The proposal also exposes deepening fissures within ODM itself. Recent reports indicate competing factions are already jockeying for position in a post-Raila era, with some leaders wary of becoming junior partners in what would effectively be a Ruto-dominated political arrangement.

The party’s traditional base in Nyanza and coastal regions may resist any perceived capitulation to a president many still view with suspicion.

Kisii County Commissioner Joseph Kibet’s emphasis on voter registration during the same Mashujaa Day event adds another dimension to the unfolding drama.

His appeal for eligible residents to register before the deadline suggests that both national and county officials anticipate significant political realignment ahead of 2027, with control of the expanded voter roll becoming crucial to whatever configuration emerges from current negotiations.

The stark warning Kibet issued to drug traffickers and illicit brew peddlers, promising ruthless government action, underscores the administration’s desire to demonstrate effective governance credentials regardless of political complications.

It is a reminder that policy implementation and service delivery continue even as seismic political realignment discussions occur behind closed doors and occasionally burst into public view.

For President Ruto, the calculus involves weighing the benefits of absorbing a weakened but still significant opposition party against the risks of alienating his UDA base and appearing to abandon the party that brought him to power.

His 2022 victory was predicated partly on a “hustler versus dynasty” narrative that positioned him against establishment figures like Raila. Joining or merging with ODM would require careful reframing of that narrative to maintain credibility with his core supporters.

The international community will watch these developments closely. Kenya’s reputation as East Africa’s most vibrant democracy rests partly on its competitive electoral environment and peaceful power transitions.

Any moves toward consolidating political power, even through ostensibly democratic means, will invite scrutiny about democratic backsliding and the health of Kenya’s institutional framework.

As the 2027 elections approach, Arati’s call for Ruto to join ODM represents more than political theater.

It signals a potential fundamental restructuring of Kenya’s party system, with implications for democratic competition, ethnic coalition building, and the balance between stability and pluralism.

Whether this audacious proposal gains traction or fades into political obscurity will shape Kenyan politics for years to come, determining whether the country moves toward greater consolidation or maintains its tradition of competitive, if often chaotic, multi-party democracy.

The coming months will reveal whether Arati was floating a trial balloon, articulating a consensus view within ODM’s leadership, or simply engaging in the kind of political speculation that thrives in Kenya’s ever-turbulent political environment.

What remains certain is that the late Raila Odinga’s passing has opened space for political reconfiguration that seemed impossible during his lifetime, and ambitious politicians across the spectrum are racing to shape the emerging order to their advantage.