The political fortress of the opposition is crumbling. In a coordinated move that shifts the 2027 calculus, Governors from the vote-rich Western Kenya region have publicly endorsed President William Ruto’s reelection bid, dealing a blow to the fading Azimio coalition.

Led by Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and his Busia counterpart Paul Otuoma—both elected on ODM tickets—the leaders declared that the region’s interests are best served inside the government. The endorsement came during a development tour by the President, who is dangling billions in sugar and infrastructure projects to woo the Mulembe nation.

"Development Has No Party"

"We are tired of being in the opposition," Governor Otuoma told a cheering crowd in Budalangi. "We have agreed with the President on the revival of Mumias Sugar and the completion of key roads. Politics of rhetoric is over; this is the era of the shilling."

The endorsement is a triumph for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who has been working overtime to consolidate his backyard for Kenya Kwanza. It effectively isolates hardliners within ODM who are opposed to the emerging "broad-based" cooperation between Raila Odinga’s party and the UDA government.

• The Deal: The Governors presented a memorandum of understanding (MoU) demanding the completion of stalled projects and increased allocation for the region. In return, they promised to deliver the Western vote block—traditionally an opposition stronghold—to Ruto in 2027.
• Azimio's Deathbed: With Western Kenya shifting loyalty and Nyanza’s ODM leadership negotiating a formal coalition, the opposition is effectively decapitated. The political landscape is rapidly realigning into a single, massive governing machine.