Ruth Odinga: I never asked Raila for a direct ticket, I won’t now

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has ruled out seeking a direct ODM ticket as she prepares to contest for the Kisumu governorship in the 2027 General Election.

Ruth said she would participate in the party primaries and compete against other aspirants for the ticket, insisting that she has never sought preferential treatment because of her family name.

“I never asked for a direct party ticket when former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (Baba) was alive, and not now as well. All I ask for is a level playing field so that the best carries the day,” she said.

Ruth, who is seeking to succeed Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o as the third governor of Kisumu, said she was aware that her surname could create assumptions that she would automatically receive the ODM ticket.

She said she has consistently opposed the practice of being “kubebwa mkono juu”, which she described as receiving a direct party ticket regardless of one's popularity on the ground.

“For the record, as a politician, I have been against 'kubebwa mkono juu', which, in other words, means being given a direct ODM party ticket regardless of your popularity on the ground,” she said.

Ruth said her decision to seek the governorship was informed by her long political involvement and experience in Kisumu.

She first contested for an elective position in 2013, when she sought the Kisumu governor's seat following the introduction of devolved government under the 2010 Constitution.

At the time, she said, she had been actively involved in the yes campaign for the Constitution in Nyanza, led by her brother, Dr Oburu Oginga, the current ODM party leader.

She also cited her experience as the chief executive officer of a major company in Kisumu that employed more than 700 people as one of the factors that encouraged her to seek the governor's position.

However, her bid coincided with her late brother Raila Odinga's third attempt at the presidency.

According to Ruth, some ODM leaders felt that her bid for the Kisumu governorship could affect Raila's political fortunes in the county.

She nevertheless proceeded with the party nominations and defeated her closest competitor, Jack Ranguma.

She later stepped down from the gubernatorial race and became Ranguma's deputy, a position she held for five years.

In 2017, ODM leaders picked Nyong’o as the party's candidate for governor. Ruth said she was again advised not to contest for an elective position because of concerns surrounding her family's political influence.

She instead joined Nyong’o's administration as a special adviser in charge of disaster management.

In 2022, Ruth said she could not challenge Nyong’o because he was seeking a second term.

She turned her attention to Raila's presidential campaign but was later advised to seek an elective position while supporting his presidential bid. That led her to contest for the Kisumu Woman Representative seat.

Ruth said she could have received the ODM certificate directly but rejected the option and chose to compete in the party primaries.

She emerged victorious and went on to win the general election with 304,419 votes, compared with her closest competitor, who garnered 80,117 votes.

She said the decision to compete for the party ticket had strengthened her confidence in the importance of competitive nominations.

“Looking back, that was one of the best political decisions I have ever made. Had I been handed the ODM certificate on a silver platter in 2022, ningeambia watu nini in 2027?” she said.