NAIROBI, Kenya- Businessman and political figure Ahmed Abdi Jama, popularly known as Oketch Salah, says the late Raila Odinga would not have taken ODM into a coalition government with UDA without a negotiated agreement protecting the party’s interests.
Salah said Raila had planned to meet President William Ruto to discuss structures that would safeguard ODM’s position while supporting Ruto’s re-election bid.
He said negotiations were part of responsible leadership, not an attempt to impose conditions.
Salah also said he believed Principal Secretary for Interior and National Administration Dr Raymond Omollo had been misunderstood after questioning calls for a written pact between ODM and Ruto.
Omollo had said it would be “very unfortunate” if the Luo community demanded a written agreement, arguing that political cooperation should be based on mutual trust and support.
Salah says ODM’s national interests must be protected
Salah rejected the idea that ODM’s position in talks could be reduced to demands for a share of government.
He said the party had supporters across the country, from Mandera to Isebania and Lamu to Turkana, whose interests deserved representation in any agreement.
He further argued that support for Ruto should not mean ODM gives up its identity, mandate or political space.
In his post, Salah said protecting ODM strongholds would have been “non-negotiable” for Raila and claimed he was privy to the former party leader’s thinking.
Salah’s comments come as ODM leaders debate what terms the party should seek before backing Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.
ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga and other senior leaders have called for a 50-50 arrangement with UDA, including an equal share of Cabinet positions and the deputy president’s post.
PS Omollo has questioned the need for a written pact, arguing that a signed agreement should not define political cooperation.
