ODM politicians likely to be nominated Ruto’s running mate in 2027

By Peter Ochieng

Kisumu Senator Tom Odhiambo Ojienda has hinted that President William Ruto may pick his running mate from the ODM party, ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

Speaking during a Citizen TV interview on Thursday morning, the first term legislature – elected on the ODM party ticket, said the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition and ODM will most likely work on a formula that will entail ODM producing the presidential running mate.

"The coalition agreement may include the possibility of having a deputy president from ODM,” he said.

Ojienda’s sentiments may be seen as hearsay by some observers, but it is important to add that they may also come to pass. As such, we take a look at some politicians within the ODM party, who may be nominated to deputize President Ruto.

1. Raila Odinga

The former Prime Minister has unsuccessfully contested for Kenya’s top seat five times. Odinga is seeking to become the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairman. If he wins the contest in February, his first term will end in 2028, which means he will be technically out of the 2027 presidential race.

If he loses, he will be back in Kenyan politics with a bang! With no guarantees that he will win the 2027 presidential contest if he joins the race after 5 failed bids, Odinga may jump at the opportunity of deputizing Ruto during his second and last term in office.

2. Gladys Wanga

In March 2024, President William Ruto hinted that he may settle on a woman running mate ahead of the 2027 general elections. He made the remarks in the presence of his former deputy, the impeached Rigathi Gachagua.

"When Riggy G (Gachagua) and myself agree on how things will go in the future we must also agree that going forward if a man is a candidate for president the woman must be a running mate and if a woman is a candidate, then a man should be the running mate.

We must be deliberate and intentional about it otherwise it will never happen,” he said. ODM chairperson and Homabay governor Gladys Wanga is among women leaders in the country – and perhaps the only one in ODM so far, being touted as a deputy presidential material.

If Ruto settles on Odinga as his running mate, he will overwhelmingly get the Nyanza region support. The same will happen if he nominates Wanga as the country’s second in command.

3. Ali Hassan Joho

Before being appointed Cabinet Secretary after the June/July 2024 anti-government protests, Joho had served as Mombasa governor for two terms from 2013.

Though he initially declared that he would never work with Ruto – at least politically, he is now serving under him. As we say here in Kenya, there are no permanent friends nor enemies in politics. It is all about interests.

His nomination as running mate would automatically rally the Coast region behind the President.