Lead image for Ruto has 'killed' ODM, Orengo says.
Siaya Governor James Orengo has accused President William Ruto of “killing” the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), claiming the party’s failure to field a presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election marks the collapse of a political outfit that once provided a national platform for the opposition.
Orengo said it was a shame that ODM, a party that has participated in every election with a presidential candidate, was now unlikely to have one in the next election, blaming Ruto for weakening the party after entering into a political arrangement with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“If Ruto loved Raila the way he says he loved Raila, he could not kill the party founded by Raila,” Orengo said.
Orengo spoke on Thursday at his Kisumu home, where he hosted a delegation of Linda Mwananchi supporters and aspirants from Homa Bay and Migori counties.
He said the political development surrounding ODM had created the need for a new national political movement that would carry forward what he described as Raila’s ideals of constitutionalism, democracy and protection of citizens’ rights.
Orengo said ODM was the only truly national party founded by Raila and accused Ruto of taking advantage of the political relationship between them to undermine the party.
“We gave him a chance that, don't kill our party. But Ruto came to kill this party called ODM,” he said.