President William Ruto is embracing his political opponents to secure a second term in office in 2027, amid growing discontent with his government among some Kenyans.

Since July last year, the President has been holding talks with political leaders from the opposition, and since then, he has intensified efforts to broaden his government.

At the height of Gen Z protests, President Ruto sacked the entire Cabinet safe for his then Deputy Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. He then re-appointed all but six Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and co-opted four senior members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) into his Cabinet in what is now regarded as a broad-based government.

The four – former ODM party chairman and nominated MP John Mbadi (National Treasury and Economic Planning), ODM deputy party leaders Hassan Ali Joho (Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise), and the then National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum).

However, the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as deputy president in October last year, orchestrated by President Ruto’s inner circle, has since sparked a new challenge.

As a strategy to reclaim control of Mt Kenya region from rebellious Gachagua, President Ruto, in early December, met with his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta at his home in Ichaweri, Gatundu South, Kiambu County.

Days later, President Ruto incorporated three key allies of former President Kenyatta – Mutahi Kagwe (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development), William Kabogo (Ministry of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy), and Lee Kinyanjui (Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry). 

On January 13, President Ruto met and held talks with Kiraitu Murungi, an influential politician from Meru, at State House in Nairobi to discuss what they both described as “national and regional matters.”

Murungi’s visit to State House has sparked speculation that President Ruto might appoint him to Cabinet, to replace Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi after he publicly criticised the President and his government over the wave of abductions in the country. Muturi was a no-show in the January 21 Cabinet meeting held at the Kakamega State Lodge in Kakamega County, as the President held a Cabinet meeting with his CSs.

Some political analysts argue that President Ruto is politically desperate and restless to regain his lost popularity in the Mt Kenya region. The President, it seems, is willing to employ every strategy to restore his popularity in the region. 

The President has defended his move as a way of transforming the country. He is on record stating that the ‘appointments’ are a journey to another handshake, months after his previous one with his political nemesis, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“Tulianza kama serikali ya Kenya Kwanza. Hapo Katikati tukakuwa na mambo mengi. Hata juzi nilipanua tena serikali na wengine nikawaingiza ndio tulete umoja na maelewano (We formed the government as Kenya Kwanza. Halfway, we faced some challenges. Even the other day, I expanded my government to include others to unite the country),” President Ruto said during a church service in Uasin Gishu County in December.  

Second term

Already, President Ruto’s allies have signalled a determination to secure a second term for him in the 2027 general elections. Kapsabet Member of Parliament (MP) Oscar Sudi has been very vocal in asserting that President Ruto will not be a one-term President, and they will do everything possible within their power to guarantee his re-election.

MP Sudi’s sentiments have further been echoed by several other MPs allied to the President, including Mogotio MP Reuben Kiborek, Baringo North MP Joseph Makilap, Rongai MP Paul Chebor, and Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot. Additionally, Tiaty MP William Kamket recently hinted at a possible proposal to extend the president’s tenure beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms of five years each.

AUC factor

President Ruto is also keen to ensure that Raila Odinga bags the coveted African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship seat, as it holds both continental influence and has domestic political implications in his 2027 re-election plan.

Odinga’s victory in the AUC election will see him abandon local politics, which would leave a void and trigger alignments and realignments in the country’s political scene.

It is clear that President Ruto’s support for Odinga is part of a wider political strategy to get the former Prime Minister off the local political scene, appease his supporters, and, if possible, inherit Odinga’s political base.

Political analysts also note that Odinga has a solid support base, which is necessary for President Ruto to replace the uneasy Mt Kenya region, which feels betrayed by the President following the impeachment of Gachagua as deputy president.

However, a loss for Odinga would see him return to local politics, a move that would throw off President Ruto. Analysts say that if Odinga returns to local politics, he could either make or break President Ruto and other bigwigs as the country heads towards the 2027 general elections.  

The ongoing political conversations and events signal the potential for intensified political activities as the country heads towards 2027, even as President Ruto vows to fulfil campaign promises.