“There is a lot of misinformation circulating, with some ODM and Luo leaders claiming that they spoke with the late Raila Odinga on the phone before his death and received instructions from him. Others allege that Raila said our community and party were part of the broad-based government, while some insist he opposed it.

There are also claims that Raila directed that we would field a presidential candidate in 2027.

I personally attended the parliamentary group meeting where Raila clearly stated that no one should make declarations that have not been officially approved. He emphasised that, as a party and as a community, we may have a presidential candidate in 2027, and not that it was already decided.

Let me be clear: the only person who could have been the ODM or Luo community’s presidential candidate was the late Raila Odinga. Let us be honest; there is no one else within ODM or among the Luo people who can succeed where Raila, despite his unmatched stature and five attempts, did not.

No one should waste our time claiming that we should wait until 2027 to decide how to vote, especially in the presidential race. Waziri Mbadi, let us be honest with the Luo community and with ODM that we cannot produce a viable presidential candidate in 2027.

We must either work with President William Ruto or join Rigathi Gachagua in the opposition. Gachagua has already declared that he will take not less than 50 per cent of government positions and other socio-economic opportunities, with the remaining portion shared among his allies in the opposition, including Kalonzo Musyoka.

The Luos are not part of Gachagua’s equation in that arrangement.

I can confirm to the Luo people and to ODM that there is plenty of space for our community in President Ruto’s government. Let us not deceive ourselves that we will reorganise in 2027; reorganisation starts now. The year 2027 is an election year.”

To anyone feeling betrayed or disappointed about our politically realignment as community we’re very sorry our candidate for the 2027 elections is none other than William Samoei Ruto. We can’t go bed politically with people who have humiliated and disrespected our community and leader throughout the history of this country.

It’s during their tenure that our community has suffered most but this man WSR (William Samoei Ruto) has shown us that we also deserve tangible development and appointment to government positions – things we were only dreaming of since independence.

So, those few leaders in Nyanza who are still obsessed with opposition politics where we can’t be part of is nonsense. You’re on that frustrating and tiresome journey alone.

• A Tell Media report / By Dennis Onyango – late Raila Odinga’s spokesman’s response to National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi in Nyatike, Migori.