‘We’re not in Gov't!’ ODM Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati insists

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party Leader and Kisii Governor Simba Arati has insisted that the political entity is not part of the Kenya Kwanza government and called on its members to stick to its rules and regulations.

Speaking in Ekeranyo, Nyamira County, on Friday, Arati reassured party members that ODM will field candidates in all elective positions across the country.

Arati made the remarks during the burial ceremony of Peter Chanua, the father of Narok County Revenue Director Walter Chanua, refuting claims that the party has joined the government amid threats of mass walkouts from the two parties in the region to join Dr. Fred Matiang’i's bandwagon ahead of the 2027 polls.

"Chama cha ODM haiko kwa Kenya Kwanza. ODM ni ODM. Sisi hatuko kwa serikali ya Ruto,” said Arati.

According to Arati, ODM only allowed some of its members to join the Executive, and they are being treated as such. He further affirmed that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is the official spokesperson of ODM.

"Sisi tulipeana tu professionals, hiyo haimaanishi serikali ni ya ODM,” he said.

Arati spoke following a series of endorsements from local leaders for former Interior CS Matiang’i as a presidential flagbearer to unseat William Ruto from State House in the 2027 polls.

"Sisi tunataka Matiang’i atuongoze,” Nyamira County Governor Amos Nyaribo said when he addressed the gathering.

Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, who was also present during the burial ceremony, lauded counties that have been recording exemplary utilization of their funds and called on devolved units to tighten their revenue collections to bridge the financing gap of projects.

"Governors, you must follow the law while doing your budgets... we must improve on revenue as well,” she said.

Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, who led the county staff to send off their revenue colleague’s father in Nyamira, called for a closer working relationship between the border counties of Narok and Kisii and asked the leaders to reach out to the government for development projects.

"Kama Narok, tunataka tuendelee kuhakikisha tuko na amani baina yetu ili tufanye kazi sote,” he said.