Raila’s aide Dennis Onyango rallies ODM to support Ruto
By Luke Oluoch, November 8, 2025Dennis Onyango, the long-time serving personal aide to the late Raila Odinga, has urged the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to rally behind President William Ruto’s candidacy for 2027.
Speaking during a gathering in Nyanza on Saturday, November 8, 2025, Onyango refuted the assertion that the party could produce a formidable candidate to successfully contest the next general elections.
According to him, only Raila Odinga could make a successful stab at the presidency in the ODM party.
“ODM cannot produce a candidate who can win the presidency that Raila unsuccessfully tried for five times,” he said.
With Raila’s demise, Onyango has stated that the Luo community now faces a choice to make with either aligning with President William Ruto or Rigathi Gachagua.
Ruto or Gachagua
“We cannot produce a candidate who can win the presidency at the moment. So at the moment, you have to either side with Ruto or Gachagua. But where we have the space is with Ruto. That is where we are,” he stated.
Onyango additionally challenged the party leadership to embark on making plans to strengthen the outfit ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The party leadership has to provide leadership. People are making plans now ahead of 2027. There is little time remaining; plans must be made now. 2027 will be the real elections,” he stated.
His remarks come days after Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi asserted that the party will support Ruto’s reelection in line with instructions handed down by its late party leader, Raila Odinga.
Speaking in Turkana South on November 6, 2025, Wandayi stated that some in the ODM party vowed to stick to Baba’s last commands and political direction and support the incumbent’s reelection bid.
“Before his death, Baba showed us the way and instructed us to work with Ruto. We will continue in it by working with Ruto until the last minute,” he stated.
He disclosed that some in the Orange Democratic Party Movement (ODM) had already resolved to support Ruto’s reelection bid despite the mixed signals from a section of ODM over the direction the party would take.
“Some of us have decided that in the 2027 elections, we will support Ruto for his second term and move Kenya forward,” he added.