Big push for Raila's 2027 comeback to stop Ruto

A quiet but determined campaign is underway to push ODM leader Raila Odinga to the 2027 presidential race and scuttle President William Ruto’s bid for a second term, the Star can authoritatively reveal.

The plot—spearheaded by a section of powerful Mt Kenya operatives—is gaining momentum, with emissaries discreetly dispatched to persuade Raila to mount what would be a final political offensive.

The logic? The ground is too hostile against Ruto and any plot to scuttle his second term, including having Raila on the ballot, would easily be embraced by the agitated Central Kenya voters.

His recent announcement to lead a Saba Saba rally at Kamkunji is seen as part of efforts to reassert himself on the national stage.

Further evidence of his political recalibration includes the opening of a private office on Riverside Drive, Nairobi, where his potential candidacy is being quietly discussed and shaped.

This is in addition to two other offices in Kileleshwa and Upper Hill.

According to highly placed sources privy to the confidential deliberations, the initiative enjoys the blessings of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and the remnants of his Jubilee Party.

The thinking is simple: an opposition race without Raila would all but hand Ruto a smooth ride back to State House.

The matter was extensively deliberated in Kisumu two weeks ago, during a low-profile meeting between Raila and a group of former MCAs and second liberation veterans.

Multiple sources say a series of meetings—some informal, others more structured—are ongoing in Nairobi, with the goal of politically isolating Ruto by reviving a working alliance between Raila and Mt Kenya.

Strategists backing the push argue that a coalition of Raila and Mt Kenya could form a formidable electoral force, potent enough to deny Ruto the numbers he needs to retain power in 2027.

Asked about the plans, Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni declined to comment.

However, ODM executive director Oduor Ong’wen dismissed the claims, saying Raila’s  comeback must be his own decision—not a project of others.

 “But Uhuru pushed Raila and got humiliated. If Raila wants to come back, he should be the one to make the announcement and not be anybody’s wheelbarrow to be pushed,” Ong’wen told the Star.

“As a party, we will have a candidate but we have still not reached there.”

The initiative is reportedly being quietly coordinated by figures formerly close to Uhuru, including ex-nominated councilor Kamau Mweha and businessman Edwin Ngonga.

In separate telephone interviews with the Star, both Kamau and Ngonga confirmed they are pushing for Raila’s return to the presidential ring, though they denied being sent by the former president.

“I have not been sent by anybody to persuade Raila to run in 2027. Raila is an old man, he is a grown-up, he will make his own decisions,” Kamau said.

Still, Kamau insisted that Uhuru would take charge of Mt Kenya’s political direction and deliver it to Raila, should he decide to contest.

There is mounting regret within Mt Kenya over the region’s 2022 alliance with Ruto.

On Wednesday, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua confessed that Mount Kenya made a major blunder by failing to listen to Uhuru.

Emissaries have reportedly told Raila that the region is ready to change course and rally behind him.

“Mt Kenya’s vote will be decided by Uhuru Kenyatta, don’t be misled,” Kamau insisted. “He is more respected than anyone else in the region. Whatever direction Uhuru gives, the Kikuyu will follow. They find Gachagua very erratic and totally immature for leadership, they will go back to Uhuru.”

Ngonga was even more forthright about his mission.

“What is wrong with Raila going back to the ballot? In fact, I am one of those people opposed to this cooperation with William Ruto,” he told the Star.

“I am so against it. I don’t even mince my words. I am so much against it. Raila has a fighting chance in 2027, he is a clean man. He has never violated the constitution. He gave this country a second chance when he chose to work with Ruto, but look what Ruto has done.”

Ngonga also denied being an emissary of Uhuru.

“I have not been sent by Uhuru Kenyatta. I am very independent-minded and I tell Raila things as they are. He has no business with Ruto,” he said.

Sources close to Raila revealed to the Star that the ODM leader is seriously considering a sixth stab at the presidency.

However, not everyone in Raila’s inner circle is enthusiastic about a comeback.

Some are skeptical of Uhuru’s ability to deliver Mt Kenya, noting he failed to do so in 2022 even while in power.

Others suggest that the plan might shift towards former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, with Raila potentially stepping aside to support him.

Jubilee Party, led by secretary general Kioni, has publicly backed Matiang’i as its potential 2027 candidate.

Adding to the complexity, several of Raila’s long-time allies—including Cabinet secretaries John Mbadi (Treasury), Hassan Joho (Mining), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives)—have already signaled support for Ruto in 2027.

Some observers have expressed doubts about Raila’s viability, saying his political capital has diminished after a series of controversial decisions and perceived betrayals.

“Raila’s perceived softening towards the Kenya Kwanza administration has left his support base fragmented and disillusioned,” said political analyst Prof Gitile Naituli. “Nobody will trust Raila anymore. He has ruined himself beyond repair. Anybody thinking of his comeback is not living in Kenya.

“There is no magic Raila can pull to get even a quarter of his former supporters. The former president should go back to the streets and talk to Kenyans, they will tell him off. Selling Raila now is like selling pork in Saudi Arabia.”

This push to bring Raila back to the ballot is not new.

In February this year, former Deputy President Gachagua attempted to convince Raila to join the opposition ranks, an overture Raila flatly declined.

"Raila’s [numbers] is even more exiting. Because Raila already has 6.8 million, we only beat him by 200,000 votes. If we agreed to support him, we could…before he votes, he would be president,” Gachagua said during a TV interview.

But the ODM leader dismissed any possibility of cooperation, accusing the ex-DP of promoting tribalism and exclusionary politics.

“Those are the people you want us to work with? We know where we are headed, and we don’t need the former Deputy President to show us the way,” Raila said.