Political analyst Prof. Herman Manyora has shed light on Ruto's strategic playbook, particularly his recent nomination of Ida Odinga Raila's widow as Kenya's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Manyora argues that this move is not mere benevolence but a calculated effort to neutralize a formidable threat and secure crucial voter bases.
According to Manyora, Ida Odinga commands unparalleled national respect, rooted in her decades-long role in the ODM party and the Odinga family's legacy of political struggle.
At 75, she is seen as the only figure capable of unifying ODM's fractured factions those aligned with Ruto's broad-based government and staunch oppositionists.
"Mama Ida has the mvuto (appeal), experience, and heshima (respect) to hold the party together and potentially defeat Ruto if she vies," Manyora stated in a recent analysis.
He warns that without her influence, ODM risks splintering, leaving Luo Nyanza a key voting bloc vulnerable to Ruto's advances.
Ruto's nomination, announced on January 23, 2026, and accepted by Ida as "an honor," replaces Ababu Namwamba and positions her in a high-profile diplomatic role.
Manyora interprets this as "Plan B" in action: by elevating Ida, Ruto appeases Nyanza voters, tames her potential presidential ambitions, and buys loyalty from ODM moderates like Oburu Odinga and Gladys Wanga.
This echoes Ruto's broader strategy of forming a government of national unity to isolate critics and leverage Raila's legacy for stability.
0 Comments