United Opposition politician Martha Karua has weighed in on the political implications of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s death as Kenya heads into the 2027 elections.

In an interview with a local TV on Tuesday, December 23, Karua predicted that Raila’s demise on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, will significantly impact the country’s political landscape, with Ruto’s presidency bearing the immediate brunt.

Permutations

“Baba’s absence will be felt and is of great political significance. His death, no doubt, changes the political landscape. You have already seen the disagreement within his party, but if there is someone bereaved politically, it is William Ruto.

Impact on Ruto and ODM

“Without Raila’s presence, he cannot get a unified voice or support. Even now he is not sure he can get another year in government. His government can collapse any time depending on how the politics play out within ODM,” she stated.

The People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader further stated that the transformation will transcend Raila’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which has witnessed turbulence and infighting among its officials in the wake of Raila’s demise.

“The ODM party will not be the same again. There are not two Baba; there was only one, and he is now gone. There will be realignment and movements that happen in electoral seasons, but on the general impact, I cannot just claim to see how,” she stated.

The remarks come after she disclosed that Raila had voiced discomfort over his association with Ruto under the broad-based government system.

Karua also revealed that the ODM leader conveyed concerns in their final correspondence before he breathed his last on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

Uncomfortable

“I was not among the people he called while he was in India, but we had talked with him before he travelled out for treatment. I was actually asking whether it doesn’t bother him to be supporting a government that kills its own people. He did say he was very uncomfortable. I was travelling to the US then, around July 8, and he said we would talk when he came back. We did not get the chance, and he got sick and passed on,” she recounted.