Do not let ODM break, Ruto tells party leaders

President Ruto and ODM members at Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa on Saturday evening / HANDOUT

President William Ruto has appealed to ODM members not to destroy the party, saying they founded it under difficult circumstances to fight for Kenyans.

Speaking during the ODM Founder Members’ dinner on Saturday evening, Ruto said he was at the heart of the party's formation and had no apologies to make for it. He insisted that a strong ODM would ensure a strong and democratic Kenya

. “The people who now have the reins of management of this party, please, I urge you not to undermine the spirit of ODM. Do not allow this party to go into arguments or to get fragmented,” he said.

“This party must stay strong, if not for anything else, for the sake of Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga and his legacy.”

The President said that despite leading a different party, UDA, he remains a firm believer that strong political parties are the foundation of a democratic state.

He praised ODM as a national party rather than a regional or “briefcase” party. His remarks came hours after sharp divisions emerged among ODM members, threatening to split the 20-year-old outfit.

On Friday evening, Mining CS Hassan Joho was reportedly sidelined from a meeting where party leaders converged to ratify decisions. In response, Joho convened his own meeting on Saturday at Mama Ngina Waterfront Park, attracting most Coast leaders.

Emotions ran high at the gathering, with Joho—backed by several Coast leaders—asserting his position as a founding member of the party. He accused unnamed individuals of attempting to push him out.

“I defended my party through blood, sweat, and tears. The only time bullets missed me is because I was supporting Raila,” he said.

“Don’t think you will push us out. Don’t think you will sacrifice us. We will fight back in equal measure. If you chase me out, we will chase you out, too.”

Coast leaders criticised ODM’s top brass for making key decisions without consulting Joho. “You cannot make decisions without involving Joho,” Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed said.

ODM deputy party leader Abdulswamad Nassir maintained that the party’s enemies were external forces attempting to influence internal affairs.

He warned members against accepting money to divide the party, saying they would remain faithful to “Baba’s” ideals.

“If you think you will push us out of ODM, you will be pushed out first,” he said.

During the dinner, Ruto paid tribute to Raila as one of the two key figures who shaped his political journey, the other being former President Daniel Moi. He recounted Raila’s role in mentoring him and his unwavering belief in structured political engagement.

Ruto said Raila made immense sacrifices for ODM and for Kenya, recalling his role in de-escalating tensions during the 2007 crisis. He said Raila also believed in bringing people together and rejected tribal politics.

INSTANT ANALYSIS:
The death of Raila Odinga has ignited a power struggle in the 20-year-old ODM party, with members pulling in different directions. At the centre of the tussle is the party’s relationship with UDA and the question of how it should be managed going forward.