Ruto's Five Days in Nyanza: The Money, the Message and ODM's Price

President William Ruto spent five days in Luo Nyanza, from Sunday 13 to Thursday 17 September 2026, moving through Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay. He brought projects, promised to "negotiate to form the next government" with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and spent much of the week attacking Uhuru Kenyatta, the retired President. His hosts named their price: half the government, and the Deputy President's seat.

It was billed beforehand as a four-day tour. The Star's itinerary had him in Kisumu on Sunday and Monday, Siaya on Tuesday, Migori on Wednesday and Homa Bay on Thursday.

What he brought

Ahead of the tour, the Nation reported on 12 September that the government said projects worth more than Sh220 billion were under way across Kisumu, Siaya, Homa Bay and Migori. The Star's list of what the President would inspect or launch, published on 14 September, named projects rather than prices:

• Kisumu: the airport control tower, the Lake Victoria water and sanitation project and the Mamboleo-Miwani-Chemelil-Muhoroni-Kipsitet road.
• Siaya: Dhogoye Bridge in Bondo, a hospital, stadium and housing in Alego Usonga, and the Asembo-West Uyoma water project in Rarieda.
• Migori: roads in Uriri, Awendo and Suna East, and the Masaba sub-station in Kuria West.
• Homa Bay: markets at Misambi and Kendu, and the Sindo Kenya Medical Training College.

Two figures were announced on the ground. In Siaya on 15 September, Ruto said the national government had released Sh550 million for a new hospital, on condition that the county put in Sh500 million, The Star reported. In Migori on 16 September he pledged Sh700 million to upgrade Migori town to city status, and Sh124 million for a collapsed bridge, according to the Nation.

Some of it was symbolic. At Kisumu State Lodge on 14 September he said he was in talks with the county about renaming Kisumu International Airport after Raila Odinga, and that Nairobi's Talanta Stadium would open as Raila Odinga International Stadium, Streamline Feed reported. "Nobody is forcing us to do it," he said.

What he said

In Kisumu on 13 September he spoke to ODM's nerves first. "We will sit and negotiate to form the next government. Do not be worried," he said, according to The Star.

Then he turned on the opposition. In Siaya he went after Uhuru and his host, James Orengo (Governor, Siaya), who had declared his own presidential bid on 28 August. "So Uhuru Kenyatta did not defeat me when he was President, and now I am the President, and he is retired, is he going to defeat me?" The Star quoted him saying. In Migori he warned opposition figures against being used by an "angry sponsor", widely read as Uhuru, and added: "We defeated them that day, in 2027 we will defeat them again by a bigger margin!"

Most of the local hosts followed his lead. Anyang' Nyong'o (Governor, Kisumu) said Raila, before he died, "told the President of this country to look after his flock". Ochilo Ayacko (Governor, Migori) said: "We will not follow anyone in the name of Linda Mwananchi." Junet Mohamed (Suna East), the Minority Leader in the National Assembly, told the Migori crowd ODM would keep backing the broad-based arrangement "and will not take part in protests".

What ODM asked for

Gladys Wanga (Governor, Homa Bay), ODM's national chair, told the Kisumu crowd on 13 September that "99.99 per cent" of the party's leadership backed the broad-based government and that only one of ODM's 15 governors did not. She also said ODM would seek its "rightful share" in formal talks.

A day later the share had a number. At a Kisumu grassroots meeting on 14 September, ODM deputy leader Simba Arati (Governor, Kisii) said: "we also demand 50-50 sharing of government." ODM youth leader Dan Nyibule said the party deserved "the position of the Deputy President in the next government" and proposed Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi for it. Treasury CS John Mbadi pitched his own experience, the Nation reported.

Some in the room did not want ODM holding the region alone. David Ochieng (Ugenya) warned Ruto against leaving Nyanza to one party. Mark Nyamita (Uriri) asked him: "do not interfere, let us compete fairly among ourselves."

The 50-50 demand was not new. The Nation had reported on 9 September that Wanga and Arati told Ruto the Deputy President slot and half of government were "not negotiable". Kithure Kindiki holds that office, and Ruto's allies say he stays on the ticket. We set out what the post is worth in the deputy presidency as a coalition bargaining chip.

Where this leaves the deal

No coalition agreement between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ODM had been signed by 23 September 2026. For what the two parties have put in writing so far, see what UDA and ODM actually agreed. A joint technical team was drafting a manifesto, and the Nation reported that a pre-coalition agreement was expected after ODM's October memorial programme, which is laid out in every stop of ODM's Raila memorial tour.

What the week showed of ODM was a leadership almost entirely inside the arrangement and asking to be paid for it in positions. The 50-50 demand and the running-mate question are still open. The party's wider position is in ODM after Raila Odinga.