President William Ruto has led leaders from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in observing a minute’s silence in honour of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga during an ODM-UDA parliamentary group political retreat in Naivasha on Monday.
Ruto asked participants at the meeting to remember Raila and recognise his contribution to the political arrangement that brought the two political formations together under the broad-based government.
“As we start this meeting, there is one person who is not here, a very significant, consequential statesman without whom we would not be sitting in the formation we are sitting today,” Ruto said.
He then asked the leaders to honour Raila's contribution to the country and the political partnership.
“And in his honour and to appreciate him for his contribution not just to our nation, not even to our government but to us who are here in Naivasha, I want to request you to observe a minute of silence in honour of the late Raila Odinga, our former Prime Minister,” Ruto said.
The tribute highlighted Raila’s role in the political realignment that brought together elements of Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration and the ODM-led opposition.
Ruto and Raila entered into a political agreement in 2025 after months of political tension and nationwide protests. The understanding paved the way for closer cooperation between the government and opposition-aligned leaders and eventually saw several ODM figures take up senior positions in the administration.
The partnership marked a significant shift in Kenya’s political landscape, bringing together two leaders who had spent years on opposing sides of the political divide.
The two sides presented the arrangement as an effort to promote national unity, address concerns raised by Kenyans and reduce political divisions.
Their cooperation also covered issues including economic recovery, youth employment, healthcare, education, constitutional reforms and the fight against corruption.
The Naivasha retreat comes as UDA and ODM leaders seek to strengthen their political partnership and determine its future direction ahead of the August 2027 General Election.
The meeting brought together leaders from the two political formations to review the progress of their cooperation, identify challenges and discuss the political and governance priorities of the broad-based government.
The leaders are also expected to assess the future of the UDA-ODM arrangement amid increasing political activity and efforts by opposition groups to consolidate their support ahead of the next election.
Another issue expected to feature in the discussions is the implementation of recommendations from the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), whose proposals formed part of the wider political understanding between Ruto and Raila.
Ruto’s tribute to Raila therefore places the late opposition leader’s political legacy at the centre of a partnership that continues to shape Kenya’s political landscape as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.