Millie Odhiambo Says It's Not Guaranteed ODM Will Back Ruto in 2027: "Subject to Negotiations"

• Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo said the ODM party is at liberty to walk out on President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election
• The MP said the current arrangement between the Orange party and UDA was necessitated by the need to stabilise the country in the face of the youth's revolt
• She said the party has not settled on who to rally behind in the 2027 presidential vote, arguing that the party leader, Raila Odinga, can decide to give it another try at the ballot

Homa Bay: The ODM party continues to give mixed signals as regards its preferences in the 2027 General Election.

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo now says it is not cast on the stone that the Orange party will be on President William Ruto's side in 2027.

Why ODM might walk out on Ruto

Speaking in Homa Bay county, on Friday, August 1, Millie, who doubles up as the National Assembly minority whip, explained that the current pact between ODM leader Raila Odinga and the president is at the convenience of the latter.

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Millie said the ODM party came on board to cushion Ruto against the harsh revolt engineered by the youth who were determined to depose him last year.

The MP implied that the party is at liberty to decide whom to support other than Ruto, adding that Raila has not ruled out trying his luck at the presidency once again.

However, if negotiations lead to a coalition with Ruto and stipulate him as the presidential candidate in 2027, they will throw their weight behind him, she suggested.

"Raila Amolo Odinga has had to make difficult choices for the sake of this country. We went through difficult times and I watched honourable Raila almost being killed. So, for him to make a choice to move the country forward, nobody should blame him for that. And because of that, we have agreed that for purposes of stabilising the country, we will stand with the broad-based arrangements up to 2027. And it is not automatic that it is a must that it is Ruto that we will support. Even Raila can also ask honourable Ruto to support him. Baba is here. It is an issue of negotiation," said Millie.

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ODM party's mixed signals to Ruto

Ranking stalwarts in the party have successively been pronouncing themselves in a manner that defeats the party leader's resolve to work with Ruto.

Recently, Raila said he was open to working with the president and even moved to forestall a storm within the party as members differ on whether to support the president's reelection bid.

One faction has fully embraced the partnership the party has with the government and even pledged support for the president's reelection.

Another wing, comprising the likes of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, is strongly opposed to any chances of Ruto returning to office post-2027.

The clash in opinion prompted a meeting chaired by Raila in which all the members of the top brass met to deliberate on the emerging issues and devise the official position that each member ought to abide by.

In the resolutions of the meeting on July 29, the party agreed to work with the government in the existing broad-based arrangement.

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They, however, resolved to form a technical team to fast-track the implementation of the agenda that formed the basis of the pact.

Just days after such resolutions, another ranking member of the party has come out with another pronouncement.

Why Sifuna might leave ODM secretary general post

Recently, the party's secretary general was categorical that he was not open to the idea of working with Ruto.

Whilst he is the official spokesperson of ODM, he said his conviction as an individual overrules the party's consensus to work with Ruto.

Sifuna cited the maladministration in Ruto's regime, corruption, extrajudicial killings, and police brutality as reasons why he won't belong to the same camp as Ruto.

He, however, appreciated the significance of the organs of the party, saying that he won't stand in the way if the top brass agrees to support Ruto in the 2027 vote.

The Nairobi senator said it would be at that point that he would bow out of the secretary-general post.

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Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke