Caleb Amisi questions use of Ruto’s image on ODM party merchandise
By Cy Muganda, February 6, 2026Saboti Constituency MP Caleb Amisi has questioned the decision to print President William Ruto’s image on ODM party merchandise, demanding clarity on whether the move was sanctioned by the party’s top decision-making organ.
In a statement posted on his X account on Friday, February 6, 2026, the vocal legislator asked when the ODM National Delegates Convention (NDC) met to approve the printing of T-shirts and caps bearing the President’s image, directing his concerns to senior party leadership.
“When did (ODM) NDC meet and approve that our t-shirts and caps to be printed with Ruto’s image? When was this one approved, Dr Oburu Odinga?” Amisi asked.
Sharp criticism
The Saboti MP used strong language to express frustration with what he described as a worrying drift within the party, suggesting ODM risked losing its ideological grounding.
“You have just removed your pants on the street like that? You don’t even want shame! My goodness,” he stated.
Amisi framed the controversy as symptomatic of a deeper crisis within ODM, warning that unchecked decisions could erode the party’s political identity.
“Kenya needs a renaissance, and ODM needs a renaissance too!” he added.
Broad-based arrangement criticism
Amisi’s remarks come weeks after he criticised the broad-based political arrangement between ODM and President Ruto’s administration, claiming it did not reflect the wishes of former ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking during a local podcast interview on Saturday, January 24, 2025, Amisi claimed that Raila was pressured by a section of leaders allied to him, as well as ODM figures appointed to Cabinet, to enter the arrangement following his loss in the African Union Commission chairmanship race.
The MP claimed that after the Addis Ababa trip, there were plans for Raila and Ruto to travel together to Nairobi and hold joint rallies, which he said were thwarted by allies who instead facilitated Raila’s travel to Dubai.
“It is in the public domain to go and see Osotsi and Arati; we took Raila to Dubai to hide him. Now, when they realised Raila is in Dubai, they sent Joho and Junet to go and capture Raila again from Dubai. Where did they take him? Not to Nairobi, but to Mombasa, to an already signed agreement at the Mombasa State lounge,” Amisi said.
“These activities are in the public domain. Raila left Dubai straight, not to land in Nairobi, but in a private jet to ensure that he lands in Mombasa. When he arrived in Mombasa, you saw the wakina Kimani Ichung’wah were there; they were laughing. Junet was there; the papers were on the table for him to sign,” he added.
Amisi further claimed that Raila declined to sign the agreement and resisted pressure to hold a joint rally with President Ruto in Mombasa, opting instead to return to Kisumu.
“Raila refused to sign. Go and ask if Raila signed those papers. As something that Raila was supposed to be there for, why will he be taken to Mombasa by force? Why will he be forced to sign?” Amisi posed.