Salah, who spoke during a meeting in Bondo that brought together grassroots officials of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), said Raila was deeply reflective about the political direction Kenya was taking and had firm intentions about the party’s future.
According to Salah, Raila’s mind was on ensuring ODM remained relevant and strategically positioned beyond his lifetime.
He disclosed that during one of their conversations while Raila was in India for treatment, the ODM boss expressed his desire for the party to build unity within its ranks and maintain cooperation with the ruling administration.
This, Raila believed, would give the movement greater bargaining power in future political realignments rather than pushing it into isolation or constant confrontation.
Salah went further to suggest that Raila had grown fond of the partnership between ODM and President William Ruto’s administration, describing it as part of a long-term strategy for political survival.
He said the former prime minister’s focus was on strengthening ODM’s internal structures to prepare it for the 2027 elections, even if that meant supporting Ruto in a broader framework of national cooperation.
His statement drew mixed reactions among party supporters, with some interpreting it as a major shift in ODM’s traditional opposition stance.
During the Bondo meeting, ODM delegates from Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori expressed confidence in Raila’s elder brother, Senator Oburu Oginga, to steer the party through its next phase.
They cited his experience and close relationship with Raila as qualities that could help sustain the party’s ideology.
The meeting also called for discipline within ODM and respect for the decisions made by its top organs.
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