ODM praises partnership with Ruto's government, says it has borne fruit

Wanga, who is the governor for Homa Bay county, said the Luo Nyanza region has benefited greatly in the one-year period since the agreement was signed by President William Ruto and the late ODM leader Raila Odinga.

"There are many things to show for this partnership," she said during a church service in Bondo, Siaya County.

"Today we are talking about the Rironi-Mau Summit dualling, we are talking about the SGR coming to Kisumu, we are talking about the Jaramogi Odinga Odinga hospital being a level 6 facility."

The party leader, Oburu Oginga, added that the agreement has secured development of the region, asserting that ODM intends to remain in the partnership to bolster the growth of the region through government's support.

"We are ahead of leaders. Leaders are still procrastinating and we are in this broad-based arrangement where Raila left us and we are not going to leave it soon," he said.

His sentiments were echoed by Energy Cabinet Secretary (CS) Opiyo Wandayi who said the region is behind President Ruto to ensure his re-election in next year's general election.

However, the partnership has faced contention by rival members of the ODM party, among them Nairobi Senator Ewin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino,  who want ODM to reassert an independent opposition identity. 

President Ruto has declared that he is targeting a decisive victory in the 2027 polls, saying he wants to win by a margin of between two and three million votes through a possible coalition with ODM.