The numerical edge in the Ruto, Raila pact

President William Ruto and ODM Leader Raila Odinga during the signing of Peace and Partnership Agreement at KICC, Nairobi on March 7, 2025 [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The last time President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga were on the same coalition, they mounted a formidable challenge to the late former President Mwai Kibaki’s re-election bid.

In controversial results announced by former Electoral Commission of Kenya chairperson Samuel Kivuitu, now deceased, Raila missed out on the presidency by a whisker, trailing Kibaki by slightly over 200,000 votes.

The outcome of the said polls remains in doubt, given that Kivuitu admitted massive rigging had taken place and that he did not know who won that election.