Kenya's President, William Ruto, is preparing for a potential electoral showdown with former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka in the 2027 elections, particularly if opposition leader Raila Odinga decides not to run.

Ruto, who has faced accusations of early campaigning, openly mentioned Musyoka as a possible main rival during a recent address in Homa Bay County.

This statement came as part of a series of meetings held during Ruto's four-day tour of four counties in the Nyanza region. Although officially termed a development tour, these gatherings were dominated by political discussions related to the upcoming elections.

Ruto's early campaign activities are perceived as an effort to broaden his support base and address concerns about the legitimacy of his presidency.

The Nyanza region, consisting of Homa Bay, Kisumu, Siaya, and Migori counties, has traditionally been a stronghold of opposition politics, with strong support for Odinga in his previous five unsuccessful presidential campaigns.

Odinga, a veteran opposition leader, has not publicly ruled out a potential sixth run for the presidency. However, given his advancing age (he will be 82 in 2027), there is growing speculation about his participation in the upcoming elections.

Some close allies of President Ruto, unhappy with Odinga's following and his ability to mobilize recent anti-government protests, have expressed their desire to see Odinga exit the political scene.

Earlier this year, six Members of Parliament threatened to petition the Treasury to withhold Odinga's retirement benefits if he continued his political involvement.

Within the opposition, there is also a push for a succession plan in which Odinga steps aside and endorses another candidate to challenge Ruto.

In July, a senator and a Member of Parliament from Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper Party called on Odinga to publicly support Musyoka's candidacy in 2027, citing the need to reciprocate Musyoka's past support for Odinga. Musyoka, aged 69, backed Odinga in his last three presidential campaigns, twice as a running mate.

He also ran for the presidency in 2007 and served as vice president in the Kibaki administration from 2008 to 2013.

If the 2027 election comes down to a race between Dr. Ruto and Musyoka, both will likely seek Odinga's endorsement, invoking past political debts from previous campaigns.

During his Nyanza tour, President Ruto appealed to Odinga's supporters in the region, highlighting his role in Odinga's 2007 presidential campaign and Odinga's tenure as prime minister following the post-election conflict, which was resolved through mediation by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

While other leaders have been mentioned as potential successors in the opposition's Azimio One Kenya Alliance, Musyoka's allies view him as a top contender.