Kenya Newspapers, December 5: Senior ODM Officials Boycott Ruto Palace Meeting

On Friday, December 5, 2025, Kenyan newspapers emphasized why the senior officials of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) did not attend the meeting at President William Ruto’s Palace.

Daily newspapers also reported on the health agreement signed by Ruto and the US president Donald Trumpwhich raised many questions.

The top stories in Kenyan newspapers on Friday, December 5. Photos/screengrabs: DN, PD, The Standard, Star and Taifa Leo.
Source: UGC

1. Daily Nation

President William Ruto when he called a State House meeting for the newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs), senior ODM party officials missed it, leaving party leader Oburu Oginga to attend alone.

According to the publication, senior ODM officials reportedly boycotted the event due to internal tensions, alleged contempt for party structures and State House repression.

Executive director Odour Ong’wen, ODM general secretary Edwin Sifuna, and deputy party leaders Godfrey Osotsi, Simba Arati, and Abdulswamad Nassir attended a meeting on Tuesday, December 2, at the party’s Chungwa House headquarters in Nairobi, but did not accompany Oburu to the State House.

Also read

Esther Passaris ignores Gachagua, says he is not enough to advise ODM

ODM chairwoman Gladys Wanga was also absent, in what senior ODM leaders described as a procedural insult.

The three new ODM MPs, Boyd Were (Kasipul), Moses Omondi (Ugenya), and Harry Kombe (Magarini), were the only ones who stood by Oburu when Ruto welcomed them along with the newly elected members of the ruling United Democratic Party (UDA).

An ODM official who was present at the morning meeting at the Orange House claimed that the House had contacted the new MPs directly, ignoring the party leadership, and only sent an official invitation when the MPs informed Oburu.

2. The Standard

Significant differences over ownership of health data, real-time monitoring obligations, and national sovereignty led Kenya and the United States to postpone signing a bilateral health cooperation framework that was originally planned for mid-November.

Despite warnings from public health advocates, legal experts, and civil society organizations that the MoU could turn Kenya’s health information systems into a 25-year US property, President Ruto signed the agreement on Thursday, December 4.

Also read

Gachagua reveals serious allegations, says Ruto has bought ODM through Junet Mohammed, Gladys Wanga

Through cooperation in six key areas – disease surveillance and outbreak response, strengthening of laboratory systems, supply chains, health data systems, technical assistance, and sustainable financing – the agreement aims to improve health care for all.

The 25-year data-sharing agreement and the need for rapid notification and coordination with the United States during infectious disease outbreaks are the two most controversial clauses.

3. The Star

Following the government’s announcement that it would sell a 15% stake in Safaricom to Vodafone Kenya Limited, for KSh 204.3 billion, the value of the mobile company’s shares increased by 4.4%.

On Thursday, December 4, at noon, the phone company’s shares traded at KSh 29.50 on the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE), up from KSh 28.20 on Wednesday, December 3.

The National Treasury, the government’s watchdog, will lose key decision-making powers to Vodacom Group, which will have a majority stake of 55% in Safaricom PLC, as a result of the sale, which is subject to legal approval by government regulators, the public, and Parliament.

However, National Treasury Minister John Mbadi insisted that the government’s 20% stake in the phone company gave it the power to influence decisions yet.

Also read

Philip Aroko Raises Debate After Claiming He Doesn’t Know Boyd Following Defeat in By-Election

4. People Daily

Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has urged retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to mend relations with the former vice president Rigathi Gachagua.

According to Nyutu, Uhuru has the responsibility to maintain the unity of the GEMA community and its leaders because he is the king of Mt Kenya region.

With the 2027 election approaching, he said that the union of the two will be important in leading the society.

“I urge the former president, because he is the big brother here, to contact Gachagua, talk and resolve their differences,” he appealed.

5. Nation Today

Public Service Minister Geoffrey Ruku has revealed how he and the Deputy President Kithur Kindiki as they tried to save Rigathi Gachagua from being removed from power.

Ruku claimed that Gachagua failed to comply with the advice, resulting in his removal from office.

“We sat with him three times. We tried to teach him how to behave like a vice president. We advised him to be humble, calm and respectful but he didn’t listen,” Ruku revealed.

Gachagua has already admitted that Kindiki tried to resolve his conflict with the president, which led to his removal from power.