President William Ruto has urged the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to strengthen its structures as he hinted at a possible future alliance and collaboration with the veteran opposition party.

Speaking on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, while attending the Piny Luo Festival in Migori County, Ruto appealed to ODM supporters to ensure the party remains strong heading into the 2027 elections.

Strong ODM party

“I have stated that we will continue with our plans for this country. I know you people are ODM supporters,” he said.

While hinting at a further collaboration beyond their current deal under the broad-based arrangement signed between him and the late Raila Odinga in March 2025, Ruto underscored that approaching the next frontier of the new partnership is on a solid base.

“You have to make plans yourself and strengthen your ODM party. We want a strong ODM so that we can plan together the leadership of this country. If you make your party strong, I will also make the UDA party strong, and we can then proceed to agree on how we will form the government,” he stated.

Tribute to Raila

The president also paid tribute to the ODM leader, acknowledging his immense role in shaping his own journey to becoming the country’s fifth president.

“I was an ODM member, but God had His plans, and I took a different path. Raila was our teacher of politics. I was the top student in Raila’s class, and he contributed a lot to my becoming president of Kenya,” he said.

He also extended an invitation to his rivals to join him in his quest to unite the nation.

“I also want to ask our friends from across to join us in the journey to move the nation forward,” he added.

Claims of Ruto rocking ODM

His remarks come amid claims from a section of opposition politicians that he has been at the forefront of torpedoing the Orange party ahead of the next polls.

The claims were made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who accused Ruto of attempting to rock the party from within and finish it off completely.

“Ruto has destroyed ODM, and we are very saddened. He told me that he would finish ODM while I was serving as his deputy,” he said.