April 13, 2026
EXCLUSIVE! UDA, ODM Announce Date To Ratify Coalition Agreement

EXCLUSIVE! UDA, ODM Announce Date To Ratify Coalition Agreement

President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) intend to formally create a pre-election partnership in 2026.

The two parties’ senior leaders have informally agreed to write a coalition agreement in which ODM will support Ruto’s 2027 re-election campaign.

However, ODM must depart the present Azimio La Umoja Coalition, which includes other parties, including Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper and Eugene Wamalwa’s DAPK and was formed ahead of the 2022 elections.

The Kenyan Constitution and the Political Parties Act allow parties to create pre-election or post-election coalitions, which are legally enforceable agreements that must be filed with the Registrar.

The subject was discussed and decided on Saturday at a meeting held at President Ruto’s Kilgoris house in Narok County.

The President had hosted the top ODM leadership for lunch before going to Migori to attend the Junet Mohamed football tournament in Suna East.

ODM party leaders and Cabinet Secretaries were present at Kilgoris’ residence.

They include party leader Oburu Oginga, his deputy, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir, party chair and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, and Junet, who is the Minority Leader in the National Assembly.

Hassan Joho, Opiyo Wandayi, Jon Mbadi, and Wycliffe Oparanya were among the ODM ministers who attended the informal coalition formation meeting.

“The issue will be taken to the party early next year and once endorsed, then we will sit down to draft the deal,” a senior official who attended the meeting said. 

Other than getting a share of government appointments, ODM is pushing for Ruto’s running mate position to probably go to the Western region.

On Monday, Governor Sharrif Nassir became the senior-most leader to call for formalisation of the UDA-ODM deal.

Nassir said that readership sometimes requires making hard, pragmatic choices guided by a clear reading of reality.

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“I am calling on my colleagues within the ODM party to consider formalisation of a pre-election coalition with the United Democratic Alliance in good faith ahead of the 2027 elections,” he said in a statement.

“This position is informed by a sober assessment of the political terrain, the balance of forces, and the pathways available to protect our interests and advance our agenda.”

Last weekend, President Ruto also hinted that he is ready to craft a pact with the ODM party, which seeks to bolster his chances of re-election.

“Be ready,” the President told ODM leaders in Migori on Saturday, adding, “I will also put my team ready to form a joint government.”

EXCLUSIVE! UDA, ODM Announce Date To Ratify Coalition Agreement

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