Ruto, Uhuru skip Raila memorial avoiding direct confrontation
President William Ruto and his predecessor, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta were conspicuously absent from the first anniversary of Raila Odinga at Migwena Cultural Grounds in Siaya County on Thursday, October 15, 2026, a move that avoided a faceoff after days of scathing attacks on his predecessor’s alleged support for the opposition.
During his ongoing tour of the North Rift, Ruto, who has accused Uhuru of being a rebel for allegedly sponsoring opposition against him, continued his attacks saying the former president of betrayal for going back on his promise to ensure he succeeds him and instead backing Raila, calling him a conman.
Uhuru had initially been listed as the main speaker but reports that Ruto will also be present gave rise to protocol issues even as Raila’s family, through his daughter Winnie Odinga, called for a political ceasefire saying people of all political persuasions were welcome.
Ruto chose to continue an extended tour on the North Rift by visiting Elgeyo Marakwet generating speculation they had sought to avoid a direct confrontation at the event attended by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, former Chief Justice David Maraga, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Linda Mwananchi leader and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who all belong to opposition formations ranged against him.
Despite appeals not to turn the occasion into a political theatre, it was not possible to honour the wish, including from within the Odinga family with Raila’s sister threatening to quit the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party he headed since 2007, due to a split in ideologies such as the fight for democracy, justice and welfare of ordinary Kenyans that saw progressives such as Sifuna kicked out.
“Raila is still and Raila will live on. And we Kenyans must defend that. If it means me, Ruth Odinga forfeiting everything to stand with ODM, I will. If not, I will move to another party because I want justice to remain in Kenya,” she declared.
“He always said that people should have a right to speak. He stood for justice and the democracy we are enjoying today,” the Kisumu Woman Rep added in remarks seen as a rebuke of the move to out forced opposed to the continuation of the broad-based government, including Sifuna.
When he rose to speak, Sifuna said Raila thought him the politics of persuasion and accommodation as opposed to confrontation and credited him for mentoring young politicians like him.
“Sisi baba alitufunza siasa ni ushawishi, siasa haulazimishi, lazima uongeleshe watu pole pole. Tumesikia viongozi wengine wako hapa, kazi yao ni kutisha watu, kazi ni kulazimisha,” he said.
“Nimekuja hapa na ujumbe moja pekee yake. Nimekuja kusema asante, asante kwa baba Raila Odinga kwa sababu ametulea, akatufunza siasa, akatufunza mambo ambayo yanatakiwa tufanye ili kuinua maisha ya wanaaiji wetu,” the Nairobi Senator added.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, however, defended Ruto’s record, dismissing those seeking to oust him as day dreamers.
“Leo mkiwa hapa, nyinyi ambao mnajiita ati sijui opposition, mjue ya kwamba muko na shela kubwa sana, muko na tiba rwa kubwa sana mwaka kesho,” Wandayi said.
He followed the warning with a direct defence of the president’s political prospects.
“Yule anafikiria ya kwamba kumtoa Mheshimiwa Ruto itakuwa rahisi, anaota ndoto ya mchana. Leo mkiwa hapa, nyinyi ambao mnajiita ati sijui opposition, mjue ya kwamba muko na shela kubwa sana, muko na tiba rwa kubwa sana mwaka kesho,” he said.
Winnie used the occasion to confirm she would be gunning for the Nairobi senatorial seat though she did not confirm her party choice.
‘I have seen that there is a visitor here from Nairobi; his name is Sifuna. Let it not be a rumour that as Edwin Sifuna searches for higher offices, I see there is a space. That is why I will stand for the senator of Nairobi.”
ODM leader Oburu Oginga did not attend the anniversary as he is still resting at home on the advice of his doctors following health challenges.
