The meeting was attended by key Kenya Kwanza figures, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
MPs from political parties allied to the government were present during the meeting.
Ruto chaired the high-level meeting in his capacity as Kenya Kwanza’s leader, with Kindiki present as the coalition’s deputy.
"This is the time to put Kenya and the people ahead of any other consideration.
We will work together, our political inclinations notwithstanding, to take our country forward.
Kenya and the people must succeed," Ruto said in a statement on X after the meeting.
The gathering took place just hours before the expected unveiling of a broad-based government cooperation agreement between Ruto and Raila later on Friday.
There is a sense of anticipation within Raila’s camp, as his allies view the agreement as a strategic opening to join the government and collaborate ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Here comes the day,” Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday morning.
Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda echoed this sentiment, stating that Friday would mark the beginning of “the journey to President Ruto’s reelection in 2027.”
Meanwhile, Raila is chairing a parallel meeting with his party’s Central Management Committee (CMC)—ODM’s top decision-making organ—to brief his allies on the agreement with Ruto.
The CMC consists of top ODM officials, including the Chairperson, Secretary-General, Deputy Party Leaders, National Treasurer, and Executive Director.
It is understood that during the State House meeting, Ruto defended the cooperation agreement with Raila and reassured his MPs amid reports of government changes to accommodate ODM.
As part of the deal, Kenya Kwanza has already ceded several parliamentary committee leadership positions to ODM, and Raila is expected to nominate additional allies to the Cabinet.
Raila recently concluded a weeklong countrywide tour consulting his supporters, culminating in a meeting with top Nairobi County ODM leaders at the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC) on Friday night.
During his tour, Raila dismissed the possibility of working with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, instead emphasizing his commitment to working with the government to stabilize the country.
