Conditions or no conditions? Raila backyard split over Ruto support

President William Ruto with Nyanza leaders during a tour of Migori on September 16, 2026. President William Ruto’s bid to consolidate support in the ODM backyard is facing a new dilemma, with leaders of the orange party divided over whether the support should be conditional or not. The new development is pitting leaders pushing a number of demands as preconditions against those arguing that ODM should reciprocate Ruto’s gestures without any conditions.

Those pushing for a conditional arrangement want a clear political bargain before committing the region to Ruto’s 2027 re-election campaign.

At the heart of their demands is a 50-50 sharing of government between the ruling UDA Party and ODM, should the current broad-based arrangement win the 2027 polls.

That camp also wants ODM to secure the Deputy President position, arguing that the region cannot simply deliver its votes while remaining on the margins of power.