Raila left us in Gov’t, we will walk with Ruto beyond 2027- CS Wandayi declares

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has reaffirmed ODM’s commitment to working with President William Ruto’s administration, saying the party will continue standing with the government “till the end and beyond 2027.”

Speaking at Raila Odinga’s rural home in Bondo, Siaya County, where preparations for his burial were underway after the State funeral at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Wandayi said the late ODM leader left his followers in Ruto’s broad-based government.

“I want to affirm that Baba has left us as a people in government led by President Ruto, and that is where we are going to stay till the end. I can dare say with no fear of contradiction that we shall walk step by step with President Ruto to the end, now and beyond 2027,” Wandayi stated.

The CS, who is a long-serving member of ODM, also praised the party’s decision to appoint Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga as acting party leader, describing it as “wise and timely.”

Wandayi expressed confidence in Dr. Oburu’s ability to steer ODM forward while maintaining close collaboration with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) under President Ruto.

“ODM, which is the party I belong to and everyone here belongs to, has made a very wise decision to appoint Dr. Oburu Odinga as party leader. In fact, I will be proposing as a life member of ODM that it convenes very quickly after Baba’s sendoff, the National Delegates Convention to actually confirm Dr. Oburu’s appointment and formally elect him as the party leader,” he said.

“We believe Oburu has the experience and the composure to steer this party into the next level while working closely with our partners in the broad-based government, which is UDA led by President Ruto,” Wandayi added.

He thus assured ODM supporters that the party remains united and that the Nyanza region will continue to rally behind the new party leadership.

“I want to remove any doubt whatsoever from whosoever’s mind that this region is going to remain intact within ODM and is going to get leadership and direction from the party leader, Oburu,” he said.

Wandayi further thanked President Ruto for according the late former Prime Minister a State funeral, noting that even Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was not given such recognition after his death in 1994.

“I want to thank the President in a very big way for making a proclamation to accord Raila Odinga a state funeral, with full military honours, because he has simply used his discretion as the Commander-in-Chief. Even Jaramogi Oginga, who was the first Vice President, was never accorded such,” he said.

At the same time, the former Ugunja MP lauded Siaya County’s readiness to host dignitaries and mourners expected for the burial ceremony.

“I am happy that Siaya County is ready to receive guests who will be here with us. Secondly, it is proud to give Baba a befitting send-off,” Wandayi remarked.

The late Raila Odinga, who died in Kochi, India, will be buried on Sunday at his Bondo home following a four-day State funeral programme released by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

A State Funeral Service was held on Friday at Nyayo Stadium, followed by a public viewing, which is also expected to be done on Saturday in Kisumu at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium.