Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s son, Raila Odinga Junior, has publicly endorsed President William Ruto’s bid for a second term ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Raila Junior made the declaration on Sunday during a church service attended by President Ruto in Kisumu, where he praised the shared development vision that he said the President had with his late father.
Addressing Ruto, Raila Junior introduced himself as the son of the late opposition chief before declaring his support for the President.
“Your Excellency, welcome to Kisumu. I am Raila Odinga Junior, Baba’s son. I do not have much to say, but I know you had a shared vision with Raila of development and bringing things to the ground, and not just in the Nyanza region but the whole of Kenya,” he said.
He then made his position on Ruto’s political future clear.
“Therefore, Your Excellency, I would like to say that I am supporting and I’m behind you fully,” he said.
Ruto Promises to Carry On Raila’s Legacy
Raila Junior’s endorsement came as President Ruto sought to strengthen his relationship with ODM leaders and supporters in Nyanza.
Speaking at the Voice of Salvation and Healing Church in Mamboleo, Kisumu, Ruto said he would work with ODM supporters to advance what he described as Raila’s development legacy.
The President acknowledged that replacing Raila would be difficult but argued that his vision could continue through national development and political cooperation.
“It may not be possible to replace the late Raila Odinga, but we can work to make sure that his legacy is carried on in the development of our nation,” Ruto said.
Ruto also described himself as a student of the late opposition leader and assured ODM supporters that he would continue working with them.
“I want to assure you that as a student of the late Raila Odinga, I will walk with you. ODM and UDA are not competitors but rather collaborators, and I will ensure his legacy lives on,” he said.
Ruto Courts Nyanza Support Ahead of 2027
Ruto was speaking during a grassroots leaders meeting in Kisumu as he sought to account for promises made to Kenyans during the 2022 election campaign.
The President defended his administration’s economic record, saying the government inherited an economy facing heavy debt and high inflation but had since achieved greater stability.
“We had an economy that was burdened with a lot of debts and inflation was high, but I can now confidently say our economy is stable, and today the economy is the sixth largest economy in Africa,” he said.
Ruto also linked several of his administration’s flagship projects, including the Standard Gauge Railway, affordable housing and job creation, to development priorities associated with Raila’s long-standing political agenda.
Raila Junior’s endorsement is likely to generate significant political debate, particularly in Nyanza, where his late father commanded a strong following for decades.
With the 2027 election increasingly shaping political alignments, the declaration adds another notable voice to the growing debate over President Ruto’s re-election bid.
