President William Ruto has revealed that ODM party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga personally presented him with a list of ministries the party sought to secure under the broad-based government framework established in 2024.
Speaking during the ODM Founders’ Dinner in Mombasa on Saturday, the President reflected on his series of consultations with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, noting that Oburu played a central role in every major discussion. According to Ruto, Raila insisted that any substantive negotiation on the broad-based government could only proceed with Oburu’s full involvement, describing him as his “brother, friend, and confidant.”
Ruto recounted that Oburu submitted a comprehensive list of ministries that reflected ODM’s expectations and negotiating priorities as the party engaged with the Kenya Kwanza administration on a shared-governance structure.
“It was Oburu Odinga who came and told me, ‘This is the list of the ministries we are thinking about,’ and it was a fairly long list,” Ruto noted.
The President congratulated Oburu for taking on the leadership of ODM at a defining moment for both the party and the country. He described the role as one of immense trust and responsibility, urging the new ODM leader to honour Raila Odinga’s legacy of resilience, national vision, and political conviction.
“This great party has given you the honour to steer its affairs. We can only wish you well and Godspeed,” he said. “My hope is that you will stand for what he stood for, match his vision, and work for this party the way your brother did.”
Several ODM members joined President Ruto’s cabinet in July 2024, following the dissolution of his initial Cabinet after nationwide protests over new tax measures. A year later, in March 2025, President Ruto and Raila Odinga formalised the broad-based government through a cooperation agreement.
