East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga has not yet decided whether to support President William Ruto’s re-election campaign in the 2027 General Election.
In a recent interview, Winnie Odinga emphasized that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party’s stance on backing Ruto or fielding its own candidate will be determined by the party membership through the upcoming National Delegates Convention (NDC).
When asked directly about her support for Ruto, Odinga described the question as challenging and said she had not made a final decision.
She further noted that ODM has not settled on whether to present a presidential candidate in 2027, underlining that such decisions are to be guided by the party’s internal structures.
"I do not believe ODM has made a final decision on fielding a presidential candidate. The National Delegates Convention later this year will make these decisions," she said.
Winnie Odinga, daughter of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, stressed the importance of allowing party members to have a say in the direction of ODM, cautioning against decisions driven by a few individuals prioritizing personal interests.
- She accused some party members of focusing on self-preservation rather than the will of ODM supporters.
- She called for a democratic process where supporters’ views are heard and respected.
Regarding whether Raila Odinga would have contested the presidency in 2027 if alive, Winnie suggested it was possible, given the current national challenges such as public dissatisfaction and slow development.
However, she clarified that her comments were not a critique of President Ruto’s performance but an indication that more needs to be done to address Kenyans’ concerns.
On the question of ODM endorsing Ruto’s re-election bid, Winnie reiterated that the decision rests with party members and will be made during the NDC.
