The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has dismissed reports that it has suspended coalition negotiations with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), clarifying that formal discussions between the two parties have yet to officially commence. Party Leader Oburu Oginga emphasized that while the two organizations are partners within the current broad-based government, a structured framework for a long-term political alliance is still in the preparatory stages.
Speaking to the press in Kisumu on Saturday, Oginga sought to address growing public speculation regarding the stability of the relationship between the opposition’s largest party and President William Ruto’s UDA. He noted that the absence of a visible negotiating team has led to “unfounded” claims of a stalemate.
“We cannot stop what has not started,” Oginga stated. “Our negotiations with UDA have not formally begun. We have not even constituted the negotiating teams, and therefore, there is no issue of putting a break to the process. Speculation does not represent the official stance of the ODM party.”
The ODM leader revealed that the party’s technical teams are currently drafting a comprehensive agenda that will serve as the basis for future engagement. He promised that once the talks begin, the process would be transparent and the objectives made public to ensure accountability to the party’s supporters and the Kenyan electorate.
Central to any future agreement, Oginga stressed, is the principle of “zoning.” He asserted that ODM would not cede its traditional political strongholds in exchange for a partnership. This stance follows recent concerns from ODM legislators regarding perceived political incursions by UDA officials into regions where ODM currently holds a majority of elective seats.+1
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“This tool called zoning is a strategic necessity. We are not ready to cede positions which we already hold,” Oginga remarked. “We expect any potential partner to respect our existing areas of influence. Non-interference is a principle we will not compromise on as we look toward future electoral cycles.”
While reaffirming ODM’s commitment to its role in the broad-based government arrangement—which is set to run until 2027—Oginga ruled out the possibility of the party engaging in parallel negotiations with other political formations at this time. He noted that the party’s current strategic focus is exclusively on its engagement with UDA.
Despite the focus on coalition building, the party leader issued a warning to internal aspirants, reminding them that the party remains committed to democratic processes. He clarified that even in a potential coalition scenario, elective positions within ODM’s strongholds would still be subject to competitive internal nominations.
The political landscape in Kenya has remained in flux since the reorganization of the ODM leadership following the passing of its founder, Raila Odinga, in late 2025. As the party prepares for the 2027 General Election, the outcome of these upcoming negotiations with UDA is expected to be a defining factor in the country’s executive and legislative alignment. Further updates on the formation of the technical negotiating teams are expected before the end of the month.
