
In a move stunned commentators and supporters alike, ODM leader Raila Odinga has officially announced his departure from the Azimio coalition and aligned himself with President William Ruto’s government—a shift that now firmly places him in the pro-Ruto camp heading into 2027.
The bombshell came during his address at a high-profile event in Homa Bay, where Raila made it clear that national stability takes precedence over entrenched party loyalties.
He defended the controversial alignment as a strategic necessity, warning of Kenya’s descent into destabilization if opposing forces continued their political tug-of-war.“This decision was not made lightly,” Raila declared.
“I acted in the best interests of the country. We were teetering on the brink of chaos. It was imperative to join forces to safeguard Kenya’s future.”DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa immediately seized on the statement, describing it as a seismic realignment.

“This day marks the biggest mistake,” Wamalwa asserted, refuting any notion that Raila might return to his former opposition role. “From this moment, he is on the two-term team.”
Wamalwa also took aim at ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, calling out his declared intention to leave the party if Raila sided with Ruto. “Unless you eat your words, Sifuna,” Wamalwa shot back, “it’s obvious—Raila is not part of the one-term narrative;
he’s committed to Ruto’s second term.”The realignment triggers immediate and far-reaching implications. Raila’s defection effectively deals a blow to Azimio’s relevance and unity, prompting alarm over the fragmentation of opposition forces mere years before the next general election.
Meanwhile, Ruto gains a potent boost to his re-election campaign with seasoned political heft now in his corner.
The fallout is expected to ripple across Kenya’s political landscape, triggering both unrest among grassroots supporters and recalibration among political strategists. As preparations for 2027 intensify, this alliance could mark the turning point that reshapes the nation’s electoral trajectory.