National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called out ODM legislators resisting to support the emerging political pact between President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
He urged them to rally behind Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid, saying Raila’s public endorsement of the President leaves no room for wavering within the party ranks.
Speaking on Sunday August 10, 2025 in Busia County, Wetang’ula said Raila had made his choice clear for the 2027 presidential race and ODM leaders and supporters should follow that direction.
“ODM leaders who have openly opposed President Ruto’s re-election campaigns or remained undecided like Hon Raphael Wanjala should now join the second-term bandwagon,” Wetang’ula said.
Addressing congregants at Harvest Center Fellowship Church in Port Victoria, Budalang’i, Wetang’ula praised Raila’s track record of prioritising national stability over personal ambition.
He recalled how, after the disputed 2007 presidential election, Raila struck a peace deal with President Mwai Kibaki that helped restore calm to the nation.
He also cited Raila’s role during the recent Gen Z protests when the ODM leader agreed to work with President Ruto’s administration to safeguard peace and stability.
“If you want to lead this country, you should be ready to be led,” Wetang’ula said even as he urged presidential aspirants to embrace the same spirit of compromise.
Wanjala welcomed Raila’s pronouncement, saying it had shielded pro-Ruto ODM MPs from internal backlash.
“Some of us feared openly supporting President Ruto because our party leaders would brand us traitors, which could cost us politically. Even when the President visited this region, I avoided joining other leaders in welcoming him to avoid party trouble. Raila’s stand has freed us from that pressure,” Wanjala said.
Wetang’ula also reiterated his call for Luhya unity, claiming the community is closer than ever to producing a president after Ruto’s second term.
“The Luhya community has never been closer to winning the presidency. Our unity will only count if we rally behind President Ruto and he will repay by supporting one of us,” he said.
The Speaker commended Kenya Kwanza’s development initiatives in the region, including the construction of the Nasewe Export Processing Zone (EPZ), which is expected to create over 50,000 jobs, the release of KSh200 million to promote rice farming and the fast-tracking of national ID issuance.
He further described Sio Port as a “gateway to Kenya” with untapped economic potential and pledged to lobby for its full development.
Wetang’ula also promised to push for the upgrading of Port Victoria Level Four Hospital to Level Five status complete with better facilities, to reduce patient referrals to Busia and Siaya counties.
The pledge came after MP Wanjala appealed for the hospital’s expansion to spare residents the hardship of travelling long distances for specialised medical care.
