Kisii
Governor Simba Arati has reiterated that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)
Party will only remain under the broad-based government deal until 2027.
Speaking
during the ODM@20 celebrations in Mombasa on Friday, he expressed confidence
that the party will form the next government in 2027.
The ODM
Deputy leader urged party members to focus on Raila Odinga’s legacy and stay
united.
Arati
addressed growing concerns over internal dissent, calling on leaders to “stop
bringing in confusion on the path that Raila showed us to walk.”
“If anyone among us is dissenting from Raila’s
direction, I urge you to slow down. ODM is ours with all 15 million members. It
is a democratic party. If you have a different opinion, speak out,” he added.
Arati
reaffirmed the party’s long-term ambition to form the government.
“But the
party’s stance is that in 2027, we will form the government. We have been in
opposition for a long time.”
He said
ODM would do so with like-minded people, stating these are “people who respect
humanity and human rights, those who hate corruption and who want to develop
the country.”
While the party is currently part of the broad-based government, Arati said in the future it
will “wave the ODM flag” on its own.
“We have
to win. The Coast region has been Raila’s stronghold. Please, let us not
betray Raila,” he urged the residents.
He also
stressed loyalty to Raila Odinga, saying, “We will ensure that this party
honours Raila. We want to ask our brothers in ODM with a dissenting voice not
to confuse the multitude in the party … There is a leadership. Let us not
disrespect Baba.”
Arati’s
remarks align with multiple public statements by ODM leaders in recent months.
He has
previously stated that the party will stay in the current broad-based
government until 2027, while retaining its independence and commitment to
fighting corruption.
“We have
said that we will remain in a broad-based [government] until 2027; everyone
should plan themselves going forward,” Arati said.
“Going
forward, there are people we will not laugh with. Young people, do you want us
to laugh with thieves? We must protect this country with our status and wealth.
We must reject corruption, even if we are in that broad-based government;
justice must be done to every Kenyan.”
In October
2025, Arati urged President William Ruto to return to ODM.
“The
President yesterday said he is going to ensure that ODM remains the party it
is. I want to urge him today, Mheshimiwa Ruto, you were a founding member of
ODM. How I wish that you would come back to your former party,” Arati said.
“If you
came back to ODM, then we would have you as our flag bearer. If you came back,
we would fulfil the promise Baba had a vision for.”
Other ODM
leaders share this forward-looking goal. Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said
in September that ODM would not return to opposition.
“ODM will no longer be an opposition party in Kenya.
In 2027, ODM will either form the government alone or be part of a coalition
that forms the government,” he said.
“We have struggled for too long.”
