President William Ruto and ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga co-chaired a high-stakes joint session between the ODM Central Management Committee and the UDA Steering Committee on Thursday. The meeting, held at State House Nairobi, marks a significant escalation in efforts to formalize the working relationship between the two political giants, particularly as they navigate the sensitive issue of electoral zoning ahead of 2027.
By convening the top executive organs of both parties, the leadership is moving beyond informal consultations toward a structured framework for the “broad-based” alliance. President Ruto confirmed the strategic nature of the talks through a statement on his official X account, highlighting the shared leadership of the session with Dr. Oginga.
“Co-chaired the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Steering Committee meeting alongside ODM Party Leader Hon. @DrOburu_O, State House Nairobi,” Ruto stated.
This direct involvement of the president and the ODM leader is seen as an attempt to calm the internal friction that has recently played out in the public eye. While members of both parties have expressed concerns about losing their regional influence to zoning, this joint committee meeting suggests that a top-down resolution is being prioritized to ensure the stability of the partnership.
The discussions at State House are expected to lay the groundwork for the technical teams to finalize pre-election agreements. As both parties prepare for the 2027 contest, the outcome of these high-level deliberations will determine how the two largest political machines in the country will coexist on the ballot without cannibalizing their respective strongholds.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) formally confirmed that the high-level State House meeting held on Thursday served as the foundational step toward a “formal coalition of equals” between themselves and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). In a detailed statement, the party clarified that the session, co-chaired by President William Ruto and ODM Leader Oburu Oginga, was designed to build consensus on priority issues and move past the recent public friction over electoral zoning.
A central resolution from the meeting mandates the chairpersons of both parties to maintain structured and regular consultations across all party organs. This directive aims to ensure that the partnership is managed through official channels rather than through the spontaneous public pronouncements that have characterized the zoning debate in recent weeks.
“The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration and exploring areas of mutual interest between the two parties. In a key resolution, the meeting mandated the respective party chairpersons to continue structured and regular consultations across party organs,” the statement read.
To manage the practicalities of this alliance, the two leaders agreed to establish a broad-based management committee. This new body will include:
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The Party Leaders (Ruto and Oginga)
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Selected Cabinet Ministers
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The Majority and Minority Leaders from Parliament
This committee is tasked with a critical mandate: coordinating and synchronizing the government’s legislative and executive agendas. By bringing together the leadership of both the executive and legislative branches, the parties aim to ensure coherence and efficiency in service delivery, effectively turning the “broad-based” government into a unified governing and political machine.
The move signals that ODM and UDA are no longer just exploring cooperation but are actively laying the groundwork for a joint vision of national development and inclusive governance. By framing the future arrangement as a “coalition of equals,” the leadership hopes to reassure their respective bases that neither party will be swallowed by the other as they prepare for the 2027 general election.
UDA National Chairperson Cecily Mbarire confirmed on Wednesday that the two parties are working toward a formal agreement on how their partnership will function leading up to the polls. The primary objective is to address rising tensions over zoning – a strategy where coalition partners agree not to field competing candidates in specific regions to avoid splitting their support.
“The matter is now before the leadership of the two parties, and there are discussions that will be taking place in due course. To look at some of those issues, of course, in any coalition there are always pre-election agreements that must be reached, and there must be agreement on how the partnership will go all the way to the general election,” Mbarire stated.
Mbarire noted that while the intensity of these talks is expected to increase, the process remains in its preliminary stages and has yet to be formally processed through the official party structures on either side. However, the move signals a significant shift in the political landscape as the “broad-based” government model moves toward a more structured electoral alliance.
“That is a matter that has not yet been properly prosecuted before the party structures on both sides, and so in the coming days, you are going to see this conversation take shape. There will be a lot of cross-party conversations around it, and the same will be communicated once clear decisions are made.”
Cecily Mbarire further noted that the positions currently expressed by various political actors should not be treated as official party decisions. She stressed that the coalition would thoroughly review any emerging issues before providing a final and official position to the public.
The zoning debate has recently exposed significant political friction within ODM and raised questions about the stability of broader coalition arrangements leading up to 2027. However, Oburu Oginga sought to put the matter of zoning to rest by explaining that while the concept is valid, it is not currently in effect. He maintained that ODM remains unconcerned with parties outside of their direct negotiations with UDA.
“I want to put this matter of zoning to rest. There is absolutely nothing wrong with zoning. But there is no zoning now. As ODM, we are not concerned with parties we are not negotiating with. Our focus is UDA, and talks with them are what matter.”
He added that zoning would be a formal agenda item once the discussions commence, noting that technical preparations are already underway.
Oburu Oginga has also taken a firm stance on the preservation of the party’s traditional influence, insisting that ODM will not surrender its established political bases. He warned against any attempts to weaken the party’s grip on its strongholds, suggesting that those who fear the internal competition within ODM are free to seek other platforms. He framed the protection of these territories as a logical necessity for any robust political organization.
“Anybody who is saying we should not protect our territory is wrong. If they do not want to protect their seats and fear they will lose in ODM, let them join other parties. We are in a democracy and we do not bar anyone from moving to another party,” Oburu said.
He further clarified that while the party remains open to partnerships, it intends to compete fiercely to retain the electoral seats it currently holds. He noted that the goal of the upcoming negotiations is to avoid destructive competition with partners rather than to concede existing power.
“We are not ready to cede these electoral seats we already have to any other party. We are going to compete fiercely. What we are saying is that we do not want to compete with people we are going into partnership with,” he said.
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