ODM Invites Uhuru and Kalonzo to Rejoin the Party as Part of 2027 Political Strategy
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party Leader and Kisii Governor, Simba Arati, has made a bold call inviting former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka to return to the party.
Arati believes that their comeback, along with other former members, could significantly strengthen ODM’s chances in the 2027 General Election and potentially secure a second term for the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Speaking in Kisumu on Saturday, Arati also renewed his earlier appeal to President William Ruto, urging him to return to the party where his political journey began. “As the deputy party leader, we have told President William Ruto to come back to ODM,” he said.
“We also want to tell Uhuru Kenyatta and even Kalonzo, who were once part of ODM, to come back and honour Raila Odinga by returning home to ODM. Together, we can unite and win in 2027.”
This latest statement comes just a few days after Arati extended a similar invitation to President Ruto during the Mashujaa Day celebrations.
The governor emphasized that if the President rejoined ODM, he would naturally be considered as the party’s presidential candidate for the next election.
Arati referred to earlier remarks made by President Ruto, who had promised to safeguard ODM’s 20-year political legacy following the passing of its long-time leader, Raila Odinga, on October 15. “The President said he would make sure ODM remains strong.
I want to urge him again—Honourable Ruto, you were among the founding members of ODM. How I wish you would come back to your former political home,” Arati said.
“If you came back to ODM, we would gladly have you as our presidential flag bearer. By doing so, we would fulfill the vision and dream that Baba (Raila Odinga) had for this movement,” he added.
President Ruto was one of the key founders of ODM in 2005, when the party was born out of a campaign against a proposed new constitution.
The Orange symbol, which represented a “No” vote during the referendum, became the party’s official logo after their success, marking the start of ODM as a major political force in Kenya.
Arati’s invitation comes at a sensitive time for the ODM party, which is currently grappling with internal divisions following the death of Raila Odinga. Senior members appear split over how to interpret Raila’s political vision and the future direction of the movement.
Before his passing, Raila had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), effectively aligning ODM with a broad-based government. However, this move has created deep disagreements within the party.
Some leaders, such as acting Party Leader Oburu Odinga and National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, maintain that ODM should remain in the opposition to preserve its independence and integrity.
On the other hand, others, including ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, have faced mounting pressure from both party members and the public. Sifuna had openly opposed the MoU with UDA, arguing that joining the government would dilute ODM’s core principles and betray its supporters.
These internal differences have left the party at a crossroads, with uncertainty surrounding its next political steps.
Arati’s call for unity and reconciliation, by inviting back major political figures like Uhuru Kenyatta, Kalonzo Musyoka, and William Ruto, appears to be a move aimed at restoring ODM’s strength and honoring Raila Odinga’s legacy ahead of the 2027 elections.
Arati’s message reflects a growing sense of urgency within the party to regroup, rebuild, and reassert ODM’s influence in Kenya’s political arena.
Whether the invitation will be accepted remains to be seen, but his appeal has already sparked conversations across the political divide about the future of ODM and its role in shaping Kenya’s next political chapter.
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