Jared Okello: The president is welcome to run with the ODM ticket

What used to be rumours, claims, and perceptions about President William Ruto's 2027 political game plan has now come out as a reality that indeed, the son from Kamagut could be doing some maths in regard to the Orange Democratic Movement Party.

This is after Nyando Member of Parliament Jared Okello has openly stated that the ODM Party is ready to welcome Ruto to vie for the re-election bid.

Nyando MP Jared Okello speaks during a past event. Photo: Courtesy

In his own message, Okello termed Ruto as a nationalist and one of the founders of the ODM Party back in 2005 alongside veterans like the late Raila Odinga, the Late Joe Nyagah, Najib Balala, among others.

"The president is welcome to run with the ODM ticket. He would have to contend with internal competition. If he wins, fine; if he doesn't, he will have to support whoever does, since he'd have joined our party," Okello said.

But the MP has made it clear that it will not be an automatic thing that Ruto will be the ODM Party's flagbearer should he join the party.

President William Ruto speaks during a past rally. Photo: Courtesy

He said that he will be subjected to internal competitions; if he wins, that is fine.

On why former President Uhuru Kenyatta received applause from the crowd during the state funeral in Nyayo Stadium and in Bondo, home of the late Raila, Okello remarked that it is Kenyans who wanted to 'return' the hand after he stood with Raila during his political journey.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta during the burial of the late Raila Odinga in Bondo. Photo: Courtesy

"President Uhuru Kenyatta helped Raila Odinga to vie for the presidency, and Kenyans have never thanked him.

"The least they could do was to cheer him during his speech at the funeral," the MP has told Citizen TV.