Key political events that will shape 2025

Kenya enters 2025 amid cautious optimism and political intrigue, as President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga pledge to advance a broad-based, bipartisan national conversation. In his New Year’s address from Kisii State Lodge, President Ruto emphasized dialogue over division, vowing to work with leaders from across the political spectrum to strengthen national unity. The renewed cooperation between the two former rivals follows months of political tension and protests, marking a potential turning point in Kenya’s polarized landscape.
The partnership between Ruto and Odinga has evolved dramatically over the past year. Once fierce adversaries in the 2022 elections, the two have gradually warmed to collaboration, most notably after a series of regional meetings — including one in Uganda in early 2024, where they appeared together at a leadership summit hosted by President Yoweri Museveni. Their cooperation, observers say, stems from shared interests in stabilizing the economy, advancing regional integration, and managing growing public pressure over the cost of living and governance reforms. Meanwhile, Odinga’s ODM party faces internal friction as some members question the wisdom of working too closely with the ruling coalition.
Political analysts view the unfolding alliance as both a strategic opportunity and a potential source of new power realignments. Supporters see the dialogue as a step toward healing political wounds and driving bipartisan reform, while critics fear it could weaken opposition accountability. The coming months will test whether Ruto and Odinga can transform their collaboration into tangible policy progress, or if partisan rivalries will once again derail Kenya’s unity agenda. As 2025 unfolds, the country’s political future may hinge on whether this unlikely partnership endures — and whether Kenya can balance dialogue with democracy in an era of shifting alliances.