By Anderson Ojwang
Last year in November, after the demise of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Raila Amolo Odinga, his younger sister, Ruth Adhiambo Odinga, stirred the murky political waters.
Adhiambo, the Kisumu Women Representative, made a bold move when confusion reigned in the party by declaring her interest to be the party presidential candidate.
Ruth’s declaration seems to have unsettled some political quarters who also moved to declare the current party leader, Dr Oburu Odinga, as the ODM automatic presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.
Ruth, on her social media handles, wrote “Nothing stops me from contesting for the presidency. I have all it takes. But first, I want to see a vibrant ODM that is a safe space for everyone.”
The declaration must have destabilized political quarters hell-bent on driving the party into a coalition with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Ruth hinted that she may consider a presidential bid in the 2027 general elections and emphasized that any run would be under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) banner.
Ruth said she was not against the formation of a coalition but insisted that the party must first develop its structures before engaging in any form of negotiations.
“I am not against a coalition between ODM and other parties. What I keep saying is that we must have one strong ODM. We have been in the trenches and we know what unity can do,” she said.
Ruth in the trenches
Ruth Odinga, just like her father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and Raila, were in the trenches for the political struggle and the new constitutional dispensation.
Ruth, while at a young age and in primary school, became key in the struggle as she smuggled letters from her father, who was under house detention, to his allies and vice versa.
Ruth became the voice of the struggle because through her, her father was able to communicate with the outside world.
The Kisumu Russia massacre in 1969
During the bitter exchange at the official opening of the Rusia Hospital, today known as Jaramogi Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Ruth accompanied her father, Oginga, Raila, and Ker Odungi Randa, and escaped death by a whisker. They had to hide in a ward to escape police killings and were rescued after then President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s team left the venue.
Ruth in the demonstrations
Ruth has been part and parcel of the constitutional struggle and has been at the forefront of demonstrations. She stood by Raila during protests and has also been scarred by police violence against demonstrators.
Oburu’s presidential candidature
The ODM Director of Elections, Junet Mohammed, claimed that by virtue of Oburu being the party leader, he is the automatic party presidential candidate.
Oburu went on to state “I am the presidential candidate for ODM if ODM decides that it goes it alone. So anybody who is preparing himself to go for the presidential election in ODM, I think it is misplaced. If they want to go for presidential candidacy, they should look for another party. The presidential candidacy is already decided. The constitution says the presidential candidate is the party leader — the automatic presidential candidate for ODM.”
Precedent set in 2007 presidential nomination
But Oburu will have to contend with the party constitution and the precedent set in the 2007 presidential nomination and face off with his fiery and battle-hardened younger sister, Ruth.
In 2007, after the formation of ODM, Raila was the party leader but faced William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi, Joe Nyaga, and Najib Balala for the party nomination and won before being declared the presidential candidate.
According to ODM party rules, a party member shall take part in elections through voting and be eligible for party and national elections at all levels upon nomination.
The National Delegates Conference (NDC) is mandated to nominate the party’s presidential candidate for the election of the President of the Republic of Kenya.
Ruth will be relying on the party constitution to fly the ODM flag in the 2027 presidential elections.
Oburu presidential candidate mirage
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, in what he termed the Mahaya declaration, demanded an immediate pre-coalition signing between UDA and ODM, with President William Ruto as the candidate.
“Going forward, let us hurry and develop a pre-election agreement between ODM and UDA. The negotiation will be headed by Oburu for ODM, while UDA will be headed by President Ruto. The Mahaya declaration is that Oburu starts negotiations with Ruto immediately.”
With only two aspirants who have declared interest in being the ODM presidential candidate, the question remains: who fits the bill to step into the shoes of the Enigma, Raila? Does Ruth fit the bill over the ageing Dr Oburu?
Or is the chief negotiator, Oburu Odinga, the best candidate to lead ODM to Canaan after five unsuccessful attempts by his younger brother Raila?
