Kisumu County Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has clarified that she is not opposed to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) forming coalitions with other political parties, saying her earlier remarks on the matter had been misinterpreted.
Speaking during a visit by Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino and a delegation to her home at Kango ka Jaramogi to offer condolences, Ruth said her comments were meant to emphasise the need for a strong and united ODM before engaging in alliances.
“My friend, Ndhiwa MP Hon. Martin Owino ‘Wuod Chief,’ today led a powerful delegation to Kango ka Jaramogi to condole with us. I got the opportunity to explain a statement I made that has since been misreported,” she said.
“I am not against a coalition between ODM and other parties. What I keep saying is that we must have one strong ODM. We have been in the trenches and we know what unity can do,” she added.
Ruth Odinga, a long-time ODM stalwart and sister to party leader Raila Odinga, said the party’s past experiences showed the importance of internal cohesion and organisational strength in advancing its political agenda.
Citing the 2007 general elections, she recalled how ODM’s numerical strength and unity helped it secure key positions despite what she described as a disputed presidential outcome.
“In the 2007 elections, our victory was robbed at the presidency level, but we had the strength in numbers. Otherwise, how could we end up with one of us as the Speaker of the National Assembly?” she noted.
Ruth Odinga urged party members to prioritise building ODM’s internal structures and maintaining solidarity before negotiating alliances ahead of future elections.
“You can’t go to war without a weapon. And the stronger the weapon, the better,” she said, underscoring that a united ODM would have greater leverage in any coalition talks.
Her clarification comes amid ongoing debates within ODM, over potential political partnerships and realignments ahead of the next general election, in 2027.
Speaking during former party leader Raila Odinga’s funeral, Ruth insisted that the former Prime Minister wanted it united ahead of 2027.
She called for unity within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), urging party members to uphold the values and strength championed by her late brother, Raila.
