Alego Usonga legislator Samuel Atandi has urged ODM party members to support President William Ruto during the 2027 elections.
He said the ODM party currently has no capacity to contest the presidency and the best bet for the members was to support re-election of the president.
The legislator said that the former ODM leader Raila Odinga did not anoint anybody to run for the presidency on the party ticket and the only option is to support the re-election of President Ruto.
“ODM as a party is not ready to present a presidential candidate in the 2027 general election. Those leaders who claim Raila never endorsed President Ruto have no capacity to run against him,” Atandi said.
Speaking today during a fundraiser to help in the construction of Siala Fellowship Roho church in Kanyaluo, Karachuonyo constituency today, the legislator said majority of ODM leaders have decided to support President Ruto’s reelection bid.
Atandi was accompanied by Migori Senator Eddie Okech and Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, Homa Bay UDA party organising secretary Kennedy Ongati and Members of County Assembly Ouma Odongo (Karachuonyo North) and Samuel Lieta (West Karachuonyo).
Atandi who is also the Budget Committee Chairman in the National Assembly said they have increased funds to support political parties in the country.
He said they have embarked on rejuvenating ODM party through aggressive recruitment of members ahead of 2027 polls.
He noted that Nyanza regional delegates of ODM have already endorsed Oburu Oginga to become the party leader.
Atandi said Oginga is mature and has vast political experience to take charge of ODM. He dared anyone in the party with the capacity to defeat Ruto in 2027 to come out.
“We are talking with former members of the party including President Ruto to return and make ODM strong. If you are nursing ambitions of running against Ruto in 2027 using ODM party, you better look for your own party,” he said.
The legislator’s remarks come amid persistent opposition from the party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
The two have not fully embraced the broad-based government, an agreement that was signed between Raila and President Ruto.
Sifuna has openly stated that ODM will field a presidential candidate in the forthcoming general election. He argues that that is what Raila told ODM legislators when they last met him in Machakos.
“The budget committee has agreed with President Ruto to allocate more funds to support political parties for their operations. Those who say President Ruto was meddling in affairs of other political parties are misguided,” Atandi added.
Odhiambo said as ODM leaders, they were resolute in protecting the party against people whose interests are no longer with them.
He said the Luo community were solidly in support of Oburu Oginga as the party leader and stand with Ruto in 2027.
“President William Ruto stood with us when we lost Raila and gave him a befitting burial. The Luo community is in government and will support Ruto to secure his second term,” Odhiambo said.
Okech urged members of ODM party to popularize the outfit ahead of the next general elections.
He said Raila left them in the government and will support Ruto re-election.
“Let’s not abandon the government where Raila Odinga took us to. It’s important for our people to support a development conscious leader like Ruto,” Okech said.
Homa Bay UDA organising secretary Kennedy Ongati said they support their party’s working relationship with ODM.
“We are all supporting the candidature of President William Ruto in 2027. That’s why we are here with ODM leaders to support development of the church,” Ongati said.
by Davis Langat
