Amisi questions Farouk Kibet’s sudden ODM interest amid Ruto’s 2027 plans
By Kenneth Mwenda, October 25, 2025Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has raised eyebrows over Farouk’s attendance at the post-Raila ODM delegates meeting in Bondo. Farouk, who serves as President William Ruto’s aide, has long stayed away from ODM events while Raila Odinga was alive.
“Farouk never attended any ODM events when Baba was alive. Why will he be quick to attend the first ever post-Raila ODM delegates meeting? Your guess is as good as mine,” Amisi posted on his X account on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
He criticised the move as opportunistic and inconsistent with the late Raila’s principles.
Amisi reminded Kenyans why Raila earned national trust. According to him, Raila was a self-made politician with a deep understanding of local politics across all regions.
He was accessible to leaders on all sides, studied strategy and power, and could make independent decisions without being influenced by money or external forces. Amisi said that any new ODM leader must uphold these standards or risk losing the party’s integrity.
“Parroting the loudest in press conferences and sleeping in Bondo around Baba’s grave is certainly not one of the qualifications. Shape up or ship out,” Amisi warned. He stressed that protecting Raila’s legacy required progressive voices committed to principles, not political convenience.
Bondo meeting sparks debate
The meeting in Bondo, held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at Oburu Odinga’s home, brought together delegates from Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, and Homa Bay counties. Raila’s widow, Ida Odinga, attended as a guest, underscoring the event’s symbolic importance for party unity and continuity.
Acting party leader Oburu Odinga convened the meeting to discuss by-elections, the party’s 20th anniversary, and the review of the ODM government’s 10-point agenda.
Meanwhile, Kisii Governor Simba Arati earlier publicly called on President Ruto to return to ODM and become the party’s 2027 presidential candidate. Arati said Ruto’s return would honour Raila’s vision and strengthen ODM for the next general election. Farouk’s close association with Ruto adds weight to Amisi’s concerns about the aide’s presence at ODM events.
Farouk’s attendance signals a possible realignment within ODM. Party members now face the task of navigating these shifts while preserving the late leader’s legacy.
ODM’s upcoming Central Committee meeting on October 27, 2025, will be crucial in determining the party’s direction. Delegates, MPs, Senators, and Governors are expected to discuss internal unity and chart a path that honours Raila’s legacy while preparing for Kenya’s 2027 elections.