President William Ruto addresses residents at Nyamasaria during his development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.What was billed as a show of unity ahead of President William Ruto’s four-day tour of Luo Nyanza quickly became a stage for political positioning, competing loyalties and a catalogue of demands from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).The message from the grassroots and elected leaders appeared simple: they were ready to back the Kenya Kwanza leader for a second term in exchange for development and political consideration.But beneath the applause lay a more complicated reality of a region still searching for its political bearings one year after the death of its supremo, Raila Odinga.The leaders’ demands ranged from a 50-50 share of government to the Deputy President’s position in 2027, while others insisted that Nyanza must remain an ODM stronghold and warned President Ruto against interfering in the region’s internal political contests.President William Ruto addresses residents at Nyamasaria during his development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.A grassroots leaders meeting on Sunday provided a revealing glimpse into how the Head of State is attempting to navigate Nyanza politics in a post-Raila era, while local leaders seek to establish their own terms for the political partnership.By 6am on Sunday, more than 10,000 grassroots leaders from across Nyanza had lined up, waiting to access Kisumu State Lodge. They were later redirected to the Kisumu Shipyard area and Kisumu Port, where security had been significantly tightened.Every attendee underwent thorough security checks before being allowed into the meeting venue.President Ruto arrived around 2pm to a warm reception from thousands of supporters, many wearing a mixture of ODM and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party branded caps and merchandise.More than 30 Members of Parliament (MPs) and three governors from the region attended. Siaya Governor James Orengo was the notable absentee, having joined the Linda Mwananchi rally in Nairobi.But once the grassroots and elected leaders took the microphone, the political temperature rose.Although there was broad agreement on supporting President Ruto’s re-election, the conditions attached to that support differed sharply, exposing the fault lines running through a region whose political order has been unsettled by the death of Raila Odinga.Dan Nyibule, speaking on behalf of the youth, used his address to push the first major political demand that Nyanza should be considered for the Deputy President’s position in the next government.“We are a region that has walked with you in this journey and therefore believe we deserve the position of the Deputy President in the next government. If there is a person you should consider for this position is your Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi for the position,” said Mr Nyibule.The women’s representative offered a different proposition, arguing that women had the numbers and should therefore be considered for the running mate’s position in 2027.The succession debate was taken a step further by the CS for national treasury John Mbadi, who presented himself as the senior-most contender, citing his experience in government, Parliament, the opposition and ODM. Mr Mbadi also appeared to plant an early flag for the 2032 succession contest.National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi addresses residents of Kisumu West Constituency during President William Ruto’s development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.“I know I have my brothers and sisters who are interested in this position too but having worked under Raila, worked as majority leader, ODM chairman, assistant minister, a CS, I can only go higher and allow me to lead the country,” said Mr Mbadi.Beyond the question of who should occupy the Deputy President’s office, ODM leaders demanded a 50-50 share of government and insisted that Nyanza must retain its identity as an ODM zone.ODM Deputy party leader Simba Arati sought to stamp his authority in the absence of his boss Dr Oburu Oginga, who is in the United Kingdom for treatment.He ordered those wearing UDA caps to lower them insisting that Nyanza’s political identity remained firmly rooted in ODM.“People of Nyanza, you are aware Raila instructed us to remain with Ruto in the broad-based government. I am asking those waving the UDA caps here to lower them down. As the Deputy party leader, I want to tell you that here in Nyanza we must remain in ODM to be respected. We have told Ruto that we also demand 50-50 sharing of government,” said Mr Arati who is Kisii governor.Mr Arati also sought to reassure aspirants that ODM would manage its own internal contest, promising a free and fair nomination process before presenting one candidate to President Ruto.Kisii Governor Simba Arati addresses residents of Kisumu West Constituency during President William Ruto’s development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.
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