Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has assured President William Ruto of the Somali vote, saying that the president is the only candidate capable of uniting Kenyans.

Speaking during the finals of the Eastleigh Peace Cup at the Eastleigh Primary School Grounds on Sunday, July 20, 2025, Duale indicated that a declaration made in Eastleigh is binding to all Somalis across the country.

“I want to send a message from Eastleigh, the heartbeat of the Somali community, because when a decision is made in Eastleigh, that message goes across the whole country; we will vote for President William Ruto in unifying the people of Kenya regardless of their tribe, where they come from, and their religion,” Duale stated.

Gearing for elections

The declaration comes just days after the race for the 2027 general election took a serious turn following the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

While the elections are two years away, political alignments and realignments are expected to dominate the electioneering period ahead of the 2027 polls.

Ruto’s chances at securing a second term as president are facing serious challenges after his 2022 running mate, Rigathi Gachagua, was unceremoniously ejected from the Kenya Kwanza administration in October 2024.

Gachagua has since formed his Democracy for Citizens (DCP) Party, which he expects to wrestle away Ruto’s control of the vote-rich Mount Kenya region.

Political realignments

According to Gachagua, he has successfully managed to ring-fence the Mount Kenya region. This revelation presents a complication in Ruto’s plan to secure the presidency, given that his first term was largely fruitful due to the support from the region.

However, Ruto has entered into an unprecedented arrangement with ODM Party leader Raila Odinga, whom he hopes will return the favour in the 2027 polls.

So far, Raila has donated at least five members of his party to senior leadership positions in the country. The ODM brigade has also been incorporated into Parliamentary leadership and in state appointments.

While a section of the leaders in ODM have vowed to support Ruto in 2027 and string along the ODM voting basket, it remains to be seen how the political calculations will turn out.