Raila's bromance with Ruto signals new chapter in broad-based government

President William Ruto and Raila Odinga (left) during the commissioning of phase 1 of Makasembo housing project on May 29, 2025. [Michael Mute, Standard] It was a visit that had been tipped to be a transformative moment for Nyanza and an opportunity to interact with residents and share the government's broad-based agenda for the region. But as President William Ruto concludes his working tour of the region by leading Kenyans to mark this year's Madaraka Day celebrations, one thing is clear- ODM leader Raila Odinga is firmly in government. For a man who has been blowing hot and cold over his relationship with the government, President Ruto's four-day visit to Nyanza appeared to entrench Raila's presence in government circles. From his speeches, photo-ops with Ruto signifying a new brand of bromance and his rallying call for the region to back Kenya Kwanza administration, Raila's political goals have changed. He is not the same leader who was sending mixed signals a few months ago and even encouraged debates within ODM over their deal with the Kenya Kwanza administration. If his latest moves are anything to read from, he is the grand schemer pretending not to be in government while his actions and rallying calls to his supporters demonstrate that he is not an ordinary man in President Ruto's administration. During Ruto's visit to Nyanza, the two leaders demonstrated that they are keen to continue working together as they hit back at critics of their soft handshake. In Homa Bay, the two leaders even demonstrated preparing fish together at the modern fish market while donning matching caps and showering each other with praises. Observers believe the camaraderie between the two was a demonstration of a strong political alliance that is peaking and ready to challenge any of their opponents ahead of the 2027 General Elections. On Friday, Raila transformed into one of the fierce supporters of Ruto's projects as he defended the broad-based government and the affordable housing project that has attracted mixed reactions in Nyanza. He said the government was now delivering the dreams he had for the country and is on the right trajectory, a statement some of his supporters believe demonstrates his position in government. But as he defended the housing projects, some supporters claimed it was a misplaced priority for a region without functional industries that can create employment. In several stops, the two leaders shared the same vehicle and addressed crowds from the sunroof of the president's vehicle in a display of bromance akin to co-principals of a powerful political engine. As Raila spoke and rallied his support base to embrace the government and declared that there is no other government to wait for, Ruto smiled while some supporters cheered. "Ruto's presidency has started working. I want it to continue until it changes the entire country," said Raila. He claimed that the projects being implemented by Kenya Kwanza were part of the vision his party ODM had for the country. Raila choice of words and tone also demonstrated his apparent influence in Ruto's regime as he announced other projects that the government will implement in the region to transform its economy. As part of the efforts to address unemployment, Raila claimed that the government will implement a special economic zone as well as establish another port in Kisumu. His praise of the government, however, is a stark contrast from the strong criticisms he levelled against Ruto regime in the past. What he declared controversial and a burden to Kenyans, including the housing levy, is now a darling for the ODM chief. While addressing residents of Kanyada in Homa Bay, Raila defended the controversial Social Health Authority (SHA) and told residents he had tasked the Principal Secretary, State Department for Medical Services, Dr Ouma Oluga, to ensure the program works. A day before the president embarked on his tour of the region, Raila made an impromptu visit to Kisumu and rallied his support base to welcome the president. In Kisumu, the veteran politician even announced that his family had donated five acres of land to the government to enable the government to implement the affordable housing projects. He said that there is a need for people to have a fresh and better perspective on life. "We must change how we live, have a better plan. This affordable housing program came to sort this out. Our people must have a fresh perspective on life. I want the government to ensure the program is done countrywide," he said. Raila asked the government to enrol the affordable housing programme in rural areas, arguing that it would sort out the misuse of land that has made it scarce "I want us to stop misusing land in the rural areas. Our people should live together, so that more land is allocated for farming," he added. As late as last month, Raila's allies were still sending mixed signals over their union with Ruto. Raila, too, had opted for strategic silence and had maintained that he has only donated experts to support Ruto but is not in government. While party insiders believed the few voices of dissent were a strategic move by the party's leadership to keep the party afoot inside the government and a foot outside and in opposition, fears were rife that the developments were threatening to tear the party. For a man who had already declared that the Orange party will have a candidate in the ballot in 2027 and his keen to keep his support base intact, his backing of Ruto signals the potential of the two leaders approaching the polls as a united front. Strategic and Political Communications Consultant Dr Barack Muluka opines that Raila has always been in government since the day he started walking around with Ruto. He says Raila knows the kind of agreement they have with President Ruto. Dr Muluka believes that Ruto is the one who is increasingly putting pressure on Raila to state clearly his stance about being in government, and Raila said it. "This might be the end of his journey," Muluka says. He opines that Raila has always been making calculated moves politically, but the one with Ruto is a blunder. "I don't know whether he can do an about-turn because I don't know whether the people on the space that he left are going to trust him again," Muluka says. Constitutional lawyer Clifford Obiero opines that technically and constitutionally, Raila Odinga holds no official role in the Kenya Kwanza administration. He says Raila is neither a government employee nor an appointed state official, yet, politically and practically, he casts a long shadow that cannot be ignored over the current government. "Raila's apparent camaraderie with President William Ruto, the appointment of his close allies to strategic positions, and the state's overtures toward regions considered his strongholds have created the unmistakable impression that he wields significant behind-the-scenes influence," Lawyer Obiero says. Lawyer Obiero believes that to his loyal base, Raila remains the undisputed political compass.

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