Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi has declared his willingness to work with President William Ruto beyond the broad-based arrangement and support his re-election in 2027.

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.

Clear directions

“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.

The CS, one of the ODM ‘experts’, donated to the government following the brokering of the broad-based arrangement deal in March 2025, 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.

Wandayi’s sentiments come after ODM acting party leader Oburu Oginga maintained that the party’s immediate course of action after Raila’s demise was not on forming alliances, but on strengthening its internal structures.

Speaking to a local TV station on Sunday, November 2, 2025, Oburu stated that strengthening the party would take precedence over negotiating any top positions.

He went on to caution a section of leaders who have been spreading propaganda claiming that ODM has supported President Ruto’s reelection bid.

Oburu emphasised that the party remains independent, focused on consolidating its strength, and will negotiate only from a position of influence.

“Our priority is to build the party, unite our members, and ensure we enter into any political agreements with clarity and dignity,” he said, warning that weakening ODM by rushing into deals without preparation would only undermine its negotiating power.

“I want my people of ODM to strengthen the ODM as a party. If we are going to start talking about the position we will occupy there, we will get nothing,” Oburu said.

Oburu stated that the strategy would see the party enter the 2027 polls from a position of strength.

“Nobody will respect you or negotiate with you if you are a weak party. Our emphasis is on strengthening our party, ODM, so that we can negotiate for the top position in the land.”