President William Ruto’s ambitious plan to shift his 2027 political base from the increasingly restless Mt. Kenya region to Raila Odinga’s strongholds appears to be facing major resistance. According to a Sunday Standard report, senior ODM figures have made it clear that the party will not be swallowed into the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, effectively blocking Ruto’s hopes of securing a ready-made replacement voting bloc.
The President has been quietly courting ODM regions in recent months, hoping to consolidate support ahead of the next General Election as discontent grows among Mt. Kenya leaders and voters who feel shortchanged on key promises. However, ODM insiders now say any cooperation will be on equal footing—not under Kenya Kwanza’s command structure.
This pushback leaves Ruto in a delicate balancing act, attempting to build new alliances without appearing desperate or conceding too much ground. Analysts say the collapse of the Mt. Kenya grip, combined with ODM’s tough stance, could force the President to renegotiate his 2027 roadmap entirely.
With less than two years to the polls, the big question remains: can Ruto stitch together a winning coalition without the certainty of Mt. Kenya or the full embrace of Raila Odinga’s political machinery?
