Sifuna: Raila poised for 2027 win if Ruto loses Mt Kenya support
By Ascah Mwango, July 23, 2025ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has suggested that Raila Odinga could still be on the presidential ballot in 2027, and claimed that Raila would win the election if President William Ruto loses support from the Mt Kenya region.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Sifuna argued that the political dynamics in the country could shift significantly in the coming years. He said that the fallout between President Ruto and his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, could work in Raila Odinga’s favour.
“Former DP Gachagua is impeached; he cannot run. I do not understand why people talk about him as a viable candidate,” Sifuna said.
He explained that from his perspective as ODM’s Secretary General, Gachagua’s recent political moves could weaken Ruto’s support base, especially in Mt Kenya, a region that played a key role in Ruto’s 2022 victory.
From ODM’s perspective, Sifuna noted that Gachagua’s growing opposition to the president benefits their party, as it draws support away from Ruto without strengthening any formidable alternative.
“The value proposition for Gachagua for me, from an ODM perspective, is that he is taking away votes that helped beat us in 2022. For as long as he is taking away votes from Ruto, I don’t care where he takes them; he is not giving William Ruto,” Sifuna stated.
He went on to suggest that Raila’s chances in 2027 would be very high if the same voting patterns as 2022 are repeated, but with Ruto losing the Mt Kenya region.
“If Raila Odinga were to get the same number of votes that he got in 2022 in 2027 and William Ruto loses Mt Kenya, Raila will be President. That is how I see it as SG,” he said.
Unbothered
The firebrand politician also dismissed any notion that ODM should be concerned about Gachagua’s conduct, saying that he had already been dealt with through formal mechanisms such as impeachment. According to him, any current issues involving Gachagua should be addressed by the government itself, not by the opposition.
“You all know he is a tribalist; that is the reason why we impeached him. How many times do you want us to impeach him? He paid for his crimes; he can do whatever it is he is doing out there. If he crosses the line, arrest him. For me, that is Ruto’s funeral, pahali walitoana mimi, I was not there,” Sifuna stated.
Adding;
“From an ODM perspective, as SG, for as long as Ruto’s votes are being scattered, that is all I care about.”