Homa Bay Governor Gladys Atieno Nyasuna Wanga has stirred the political landscape after claiming that the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga privately encouraged her to work closely with President William Ruto—and even left the door open for her to serve as Ruto’s running mate in the 2027 elections.
Though no public record or corroboration of such a blessing exists, Wanga is said to have made the remarks informally to a close circle of allies during a private engagement in Homa Bay earlier this week. The disclosure, later relayed by individuals familiar with the meeting, has set tongues wagging in both ODM and UDA camps as Kenya inches toward a post-Raila political realignment.
A Whisper of Blessing, Not a Public Endorsement
According to sources within the Homa Bay County political establishment, Wanga did not issue a press statement or hold a media briefing. Instead, she intimated that Raila, before his death earlier this month, had privately urged ODM leaders to “remain within government” and collaborate with the President for the sake of stability and inclusion.
Her remarks, though tentative, have been interpreted as an endorsement of the emerging UDA–ODM cooperation talks—a process that has gained traction in the wake of Raila’s passing.
Political analyst Benji Ndolo told The Standard that such a claim, if true, would represent “the first visible shift in ODM’s DNA since Raila’s death—away from pure opposition politics and toward pragmatic power-sharing.”
Calls for a Ruto–Wanga Ticket
Separately, a group of professionals led by lawyer Kepher Ojijo has thrown its weight behind strengthening ties between UDA and ODM, saying the alliance could be President Ruto’s surest path to a second term—with Governor Wanga as his running mate.
“A Ruto–Wanga ticket would present political balance and gender inclusivity, easily appealing to voters across traditional party lines,” Ojijo said on October 28.
He noted that the death of Raila Odinga has created fresh momentum for unity between the two parties, which he believes should form “an even stronger unit” with UDA ahead of 2027.
“The popular broad-based arrangement was meant to warm up the unity of purpose between UDA and ODM in winning the 2027 elections. Even with the demise of Raila, his political troops will remain in government and strengthen ties with UDA,” he added.
Ojijo argued that both parties, currently facing internal turbulence, have “a strategic need to lean on each other” as political survival increasingly depends on cross-regional alliances.
ODM’s Divide: Pragmatism vs. Purity
The reaction within ODM has been sharply divided.
Party traditionalists warn that partnering with Ruto risks eroding ODM’s liberal reformist ideals and reducing it to a “junior partner” in a UDA-led government.
Pragmatists, however, view collaboration as a necessary evolution—the only way for ODM to remain in government after Raila’s death and to keep his supporters politically relevant.
Senator Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, recently assured party supporters that ODM “will not be swallowed” in any arrangement but acknowledged the need for strategic engagement to “keep Baba’s legacy alive within government.”
Gender and Regional Balance in Play
Observers point out that the Ruto–Wanga idea fits into President Ruto’s long-stated promise to pick a female deputy for 2027, a pledge he first made during the launch of the Female Governors’ Caucus in March 2024.
“With that shared spirit and the growing acceptance of women in top leadership, the debate now narrows to who would be the best-suited female candidate from ODM to deputise the President,” Ojijo said.
He described Wanga as an “experienced grassroots mobiliser and loyalist whose empathy and political acumen make her stand out,” adding that her inclusion would “reflect the face of Kenya’s new politics.”
Analysts: A Risky but Strategic Gamble
Political analysts say a Ruto–Wanga ticket would be a bold experiment in Kenya’s post-Raila era—one blending inclusivity, regional outreach, and gender representation.
“This is about survival and symbolism,” said governance expert Dr. Samson Odoyo. “For UDA, it means expanding beyond its Rift-Mt Kenya base; for ODM, it’s about relevance in government. But for Wanga, it’s also a test of how far a woman leader can stretch Kenya’s political imagination.”
Still, questions linger. Without verifiable evidence of Raila’s blessing, Wanga’s claim remains politically explosive but unconfirmed—a whisper that could either bridge Kenya’s most enduring political divide or fracture ODM’s already delicate unity.
Governor Gladys Wanga’s quiet claim that Raila Odinga privately endorsed her cooperation with President Ruto has ignited fresh debate over Kenya’s 2027 succession politics. While some see it as strategic continuity of Raila’s dream for inclusion, others fear it marks the beginning of ODM’s ideological surrender.
Whether mere political theatre or a signal of deeper coalition talks, the Wanga-Ruto idea underscores one truth: in post-Raila Kenya, alliances are being rewritten—and nothing is sacred anymore.
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