- Dennis Onyango, Raila Odinga’s long-time communications aide, says ODM does not have a suitable presidential candidate for 2027
- He says that the party should consider uniting with President Ruto or Rigathi Gachagua, as the local elections have no national appeal after the departure of Raila
- Onyango appealed to ODM leaders like John Mbadi to be loyal to the Luo community and guide them towards a real political path
The question of whether the ODM party will produce the next president in 2027 continues to shape political discourse in areas that have a strong base of support.
Source: UGC
The death of his leader, Raila Odingahas left the party confused, with members divided over whether to support an outside candidate or run for president.
In a rare public statement, Dennis Onyango, head of communications in Raila’s secretariat, outlined what he believes is the only viable path for the party in the upcoming elections.
Speaking in Nyatike, Migori County, on Saturday, November 8, Onyango said that those within ODM who still believe that the party has the strength to seriously contest for the presidency in 2027 are deceiving themselves.
He noted that Raila is the only person within ODM with national appeal and the strength to carry the party’s flag.
Now that he has left, the party cannot pretend that things will continue as usual, Onyango said.
If Raila failed five times despite his attractive personality and charisma, Onyango questioned who in the party could succeed where he did not.
“The candidate that ODM or Luo Nyanza would have is Raila, who is dead. There is no candidate. Let’s be honest that ODM can produce now and win the presidency if they beat Raila five times. There is no one we can produce now and reach the level of Raila who wants to waste our time telling us to wait that he will give us direction in 2027,” he said.
According to Onyango, ODM’s most realistic option is to form alliances with other leaders who have a greater chance at the polls.
Considering the current political environment, he suggested that ODM would be better off teaming up with President William Ruto or the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
However, he noted that Gachagua’s past enmity with Raila is causing him Ruto be the most likely partner.
He added that working with Gachagua would be difficult for ODM, especially considering the pre-planned approach adopted by the United Opposition.
Onyango appealed to the National Treasury official and former ODM national chairman John Mbadi to guide the Luo community and help identify a more strategic political path before 2027.
“The chairman (John Mbadi) be honest with the Luos and tell them that we do not have a candidate that we can put forward now. Also tell them that ODM has no candidate that they can put forward now. So we should look to work with Ruto or go to Gachagua. As for Gachagua, they have already arranged themselves until he said 50% of the government will be his, and then others will participate. The Luos are not in that calculation. The only place that has a chance is for Ruto. That is where we are,” he said.
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