Azimio leader Raila Odinga jetted back into the country yesterday morning and threw his followers into a quandary by holding a closed-door meeting with President William Ruto in Mombasa.

The meeting took place only a week after Raila lost his much-publicised bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship to Djibouti’s candidate Ahmed Ali Youssef.

The former Prime Minister comes back into the local political scene at a time when there is confusion and sharp divisions within the Azimio coalition as well as his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party over the next political course of action.

The country has been waiting to see whether Raila is going to stick with President Ruto through their broad-based government arrangement.

Within ODM, some of his allies like party chairperson Gladys Wanga and Leader of the Minority in the National Assembly Junet Mohamed have openly confessed over their support for President Ruto’s re-election in 2027.

However, another faction led by acting Party Leader Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo have been calling on the party to cut off links with Ruto. His former ally in the wider Azimio, Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper Democratic Movement, has been pleading with him to re-join the opposition outfit to give it more life.

First stop
Raila, who had just returned from Dubai where he had been taking a rest after the defeat, made his first stop at State House, where he met with President Ruto accomapnied by Leader of Majority in the National Assembly and LamuGovernor Issa Timany who until last month was the Amani National Congress (ANC) Party Leader..

The high-profile meeting has sparked speculation about a possible political realignment ahead of the 2027 General Election. It was attended by several key leaders, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, governors Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Cecily Mbarire (Embu), and Issah Timamy (Lamu), as well as Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, National

Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, and a host of Coast region MPs.

Raila’s loss in the hotly-contested AUC chairmanship bid has fuelled numerous questions about his next political move.

Will he join forces with President Ruto in a broad-based government? Will he reunite with his Azimio allies, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa, and Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni?

Will he go it alone, or finally call it a day in politics?

For now, Raila is keeping Kenyans guessing.

He refrained from revealing his next steps but assured the public that he would soon announce his way forward.

“Now I am delighted to be back home. East, West, North, South—home is best. I feel very happy to be back in Kenya after everything we went through,” Raila said, acknowledging President Ruto’s support during his bid.

“I’m back home, and I will consult widely. Soon, we will announce our way forward. Just watch this space.”
Reflecting on his AUC bid, Raila described it as an eye-opener that allowed him to engage with African leaders and gain deeper insights into the continent’s challenges. “I had the opportunity to meet over 40 African presidents in their capitals, not just to campaign for my candidature, but also to discuss the challenges their nations face. The struggles across the continent are strikingly similar,” he revealed.

Addressing allegations that Sh13 billion was spent on his campaign, Raila dismissed the claims as baseless.

“The government contributed what was necessary. The Minister for Foreign Affairs was available around the clock, and other government departments facilitated my appointments,” he explained.
Despite the setback, Raila reaffirmed his commitment to public service, stating that he would always be available to offer his counsel and contribution whenever needed. He promised to unveil his next political steps soon.

Closing ranks
Raila lost the AUC chairmanship race in a gruelling seven-round voting exercise held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 15.

President Ruto, in welcoming Raila back, reaffirmed his commitment to working with him to advance the nation’s development agenda.

“We must close ranks and focus on what we can do for Kenya. This administration is now broad-based, and there is every reason to accelerate the momentum for transformative development,” Ruto stated at the State House, Mombasa, meeting.

He insisted that Kenyans need all hands on deck to achieve our mission and vision.

Ruto also lauded Raila for his resilience during the AUC race, asserting that Kenya had never fielded a more qualified candidate for a continental position.

“I wish to thank my colleagues across Africa for their show of solidarity and support for Kenya and Raila Odinga. Ultimately, we remain a united continent, committed to the Africa Agenda 2063. Kenya will continue to play its part in supporting intra-African trade and development,” Ruto said.

The president also called on leaders to work together for the sake of the people and the nation.

“The political goodwill we have in the country through the broad-based government is greatly helping implement programmes that will improve people’s lives,” he pointed out, adding that he will continue holding extensive consultations with like-minded leaders in the effort to work for the unity and prosperity of the country.