NAIROBI, Kenya — The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) says it will pursue an equal 50‑50 power‑sharing arrangement in negotiations over the composition of the next government ahead of the 2027 General Election.
ODM national chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said on Sunday that the party leadership has agreed to enter talks with potential partners on the basis that the opposition and ruling blocs share power equally if they form a coalition.
“Regarding those positions, we will speak, saying it is 50‑50. If they take half, ODM also takes half. If they take the Presidency, the Deputy is ODM. That is how we will talk as we move forward,” Wanga told residents in Muhoroni Sub‑County.
She said the strategy reflects ODM’s strength and broad support nationwide as the party gears up for its pre‑election negotiations.
Wanga added that the discussions will go beyond just positions and will also focus on key issues affecting Kenyans.
“When we go into negotiations, we will go knowing that we are a big party. And as we have said, we will talk about positions, yes, but first, we will also talk about the issues of the citizens,” she told Homa Bay residents.
The governor noted that ODM delegates at a recent special party conference authorised the leadership to begin talks under these terms.
She dismissed assertions that the party is fractured, insisting that a majority of elected leaders remain loyal to the current leadership.
ODM’s announcement comes amid ongoing coalition negotiations between the party and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), as both sides seek to define the political landscape ahead of the next election cycle.
The governor said that the party leadership was given a go-ahead by delegates to start the negotiations during the recent special delegates’ conference.
“People who divide Kenyans, those who divide Kenyans on tribal grounds, people of insults, people who do not understand themselves—those are people we cannot talk to,” Wanga said concerning the United Opposition front.
