Speaking in remarks published by Taifa Leo, Mutua argued that several leaders who entered government under the broad-based arrangement between President Ruto and Raila are now relying entirely on the president for their political survival.
According to Mutua, President Ruto may have strategically positioned himself in a way that left some ODM figures with little political independence.
“If Dr. Ruto played a political gamble and ensured things are the way they are now — that he is the one these political orphans depend on — then we must applaud him,” Mutua reportedly stated.
The analyst particularly questioned the performance of some ODM-linked Cabinet Secretaries who joined government as technocrats and policy experts.
He singled out Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, claiming recent economic and governance challenges had exposed weaknesses in their leadership.
Mutua argued that issues such as fuel price instability and recent public transport concerns had raised questions about the ability of the two senior officials to independently manage their ministries.
“It is clear that the two are relying on Dr. Ruto in order to perform their duties,” he claimed.
According to Mutua, the current political arrangement has left some of the former ODM heavyweights vulnerable because their continued stay in government depends largely on the goodwill of President Ruto.
He further suggested that if the president were to dismiss some of them from Cabinet today, returning to active elective politics could prove difficult due to declining grassroots influence.
“Whenever your boss starts doing the work he hired you to do, know that either you are close to being fired because your services are no longer needed, or your boss enjoys your weakness because you depend on him too much,” Mutua explained.
The comments come at a time when political debate continues over the future of ODM and the broader opposition movement following Raila Odinga’s shifting political role and cooperation with President Ruto’s administration.
While supporters of the broad-based government arrangement argue it has helped promote national unity and political stability, critics maintain that some opposition figures risk losing their political identity by working too closely with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The remarks have already triggered mixed reactions online, with some Kenyans agreeing that the political balance has shifted significantly, while others defended the Cabinet Secretaries, arguing that governance challenges cannot be solved overnight.
As 2027 politics continue taking shape, analysts believe the relationship between ODM leaders and President Ruto’s administration will remain one of the key issues shaping the country’s political landscape.
0 Comments