Cabinet Secretary for Energy Opiyo Wandayi has stated that both President William Ruto and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) share a similar vision, noting that their past differences were largely political rather than ideological.

While speaking during an interview with a local media station on Thursday, September 25, 2025, he explained that the criticism directed towards Ruto was because they were on different political divides.

He stated that now, because they are on the same side politically, he hasn’t found any difficulty in working with the president, as many thought it would be, since for the longest time, they had never agreed or read from the same script politically.

The former MP further noted that even President Ruto’s ideologies align with those of his party since the President is a founding member of the party.

“I don’t think it is true to say that I’m working with someone we haven’t worked with before. Criticising was normal because anytime we were in different camps, political formations would criticise one another. But remember, President William Ruto was a founder of ODM, my current party. Ideologically speaking, President William Ruto and ODM are certainly very aligned. In terms of ideology, we are very aligned.” Wandayi stated.

Reflection on cabinet appointment

In the same sit-down, he revealed that he never knew that he would one day serve in the cabinet, even if his party boss, Raila Odinga, had clinched the presidency in 2022.

“I did not for any moment, any single moment, imagine that I would be appointed to the position of Cabinet Secretary, not even if Baba had been declared the president,” Wandayi stated.

He noted that it would have been very difficult for him to assume such a position, considering he had already been elected as a Member of Parliament and awarded a parliamentary leadership role as Leader of the Minority.

Wandayi added that he never expected President William Ruto to open his government and accommodate individuals from ODM or other parties outside the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

“Correct, it would have been very, very difficult, yes, for me to be appointed the Cabinet Secretary, considering the fact that I was already a Member of Parliament and, above all, a leader, a leader of the minority.”

“Okay, but things happen because of God’s plans. I never, never knew that at one point in time, President William Ruto would open his government and accommodate persons from ODM or from other parties,” Wandayi stated.