The opposition Orange Democratic Movement could throw its weight behind President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027, a senior party official said Wednesday, in remarks that underscore Kenya’s fluid political landscape.
Suna East MP Junet Mohamed told Citizen TV that ODM’s support for the president remains contingent on the success of ongoing political negotiations between the government and opposition figures.
“If the negotiations and talks go well, then definitely we will support him,” Mohamed said during the wide-ranging interview. “If they don’t go well, then we have options.”
The statement marks a significant departure from the fierce opposition campaign ODM leaders mounted against Ruto during the 2022 presidential race, when the party backed Raila Odinga’s fifth bid for the presidency.
Mohamed defended the possibility of shifting alliances as standard political practice. “Politics is the art of the unknown,” he said. “Friends are foes tomorrow, foes are friends tomorrow. It’s normal in politics.”
The legislator’s comments come as political parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 contest, with coalition-building efforts already underway despite the election being more than two years away.
Mohamed drew a sharp contrast between potential cooperation with Ruto and any engagement with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached in October. “We can’t discuss anything with them,” he said, criticizing Gachagua for what he described as divisive tribal politics.
The MP also dismissed suggestions that ODM owes electoral support to Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who backed Odinga in three previous presidential campaigns. “Coalitions are meant for that specific election,” Mohamed said. “Once you don’t form a government, it ends there. It’s not a marriage.”
He insisted any future political partnerships would require formal negotiations rather than assumptions based on past cooperation. “It is the person who’s running to ask for support,” he said.
Mohamed’s remarks reflect the transactional nature of Kenyan coalition politics, where parties frequently realign based on strategic interests rather than ideological consistency. His comments suggest ODM leadership is keeping multiple options open as the political calendar advances toward 2027.
The interview offers an early glimpse into what promises to be a complex period of political maneuvering as incumbent and opposition figures alike seek to build winning coalitions ahead of the next general election.
