Siaya County leaders have pledged to support President William Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027, citing the broad-based political arrangement and development projects in the region.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Siaya County Assembly Speaker George Okode made the remarks during a consultative meeting in Kisumu, saying the county remained committed to the coalition.
Wandayi said the leaders were acting in line with the late Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s directive to work with Ruto.
“Before he died, he commanded us to work with President William Ruto. And that is what we are doing,” Wandayi said.
He cited Ruto’s past association with ODM and his contribution to the party’s growth, as well as his role in Raila’s rise to the position of prime minister.
Wandayi also pointed to development projects in the region as evidence of the government’s commitment to Siaya County.
He recognised Dr Oburu Oginga as ODM leader and said the county would continue to support the broad-based arrangement.
“We are in the homestretch of the Broad-Based Coalition. Siaya County is essentially a two-term zone, and that is not going to change,” he said.
Okode said the county assembly remained united behind the arrangement and would continue supporting it beyond the 2027 general election.
“We have always been fully, 100% behind the two-term agenda. We are still in and we are committed to being in until post-2027,” he said.
He also offered an interpretation of Raila’s “who told you” remarks, saying they should not be taken as a rejection of support for Ruto.
“Who told you doesn’t mean don’t vote President Ruto. It simply says, use your brain. And we have exercised our brain and concluded that 2027 is broad-based government and support for Dr. William Ruto,” Okode said.
The leaders said Siaya County would back Ruto without conditions, citing what they described as his commitment to the region and the development projects undertaken there.
They also called on other local opinion leaders to support the coalition, saying they would oppose candidates who challenged its position in the 2027 elections.
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