KAJIADO, Kenya- ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has expressed confidence that a formal coalition between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) would secure a commanding victory in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an ODM meeting in Kajiado County, Wanga said combining the electoral support bases of the two parties would give the proposed alliance an estimated 17 million votes, making it difficult for rivals to defeat.
“If you count all our votes and you put together with UDA, we will have some 17 million votes,” Wanga told party supporters.
“And we will win the next elections and we will be with the Maasai community with us.”
She urged ODM members to remain united behind the proposed political arrangement while reaffirming the party leadership’s support for President William Ruto’s bid for a second term.
“We are saying two terms for our president. We say ODM should remain steadfast,” she said.
Coalition talks gather momentum
Wanga’s remarks come as ODM and UDA intensify negotiations aimed at transforming their cooperation under the broad-based government into a formal pre-election coalition ahead of the 2027 polls.
The two parties have already initiated consultations through their leadership organs, with negotiation teams tasked with developing a coalition framework and drafting a joint manifesto outlining their shared policy agenda.
The talks represent a significant shift in Kenya’s political landscape, with ODM—traditionally the country’s largest opposition party—increasingly working alongside the Kenya Kwanza administration following the formation of the broad-based government.
Senior ODM leaders, including Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, Wanga and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, have publicly backed the proposed coalition, arguing it would promote political stability and accelerate the implementation of development programmes.
If concluded, the alliance is expected to reshape political alignments by bringing together parties that have historically competed for power.
IEBC voter registration key to 2027 race
Wanga’s projection of a 17 million-vote coalition comes as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) continues preparations for the 2027 General Election through an expanded voter registration campaign.
The commission aims to register at least 6.5 million new voters before the next election, increasing the national register from the current 22,120,458 voters to approximately 28.5 million.
The registration drive is targeting young people who have attained voting age, Kenyans living in the diaspora, and eligible inmates serving prison sentences.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has appealed to political leaders across the country to encourage eligible citizens to register as voters, describing broad participation as essential to strengthening Kenya’s democratic process.
Political implications
Under Article 38 of the Constitution of Kenya, every eligible citizen has the right to make political choices, including participating in free and fair elections, while the Political Parties Act provides the legal framework governing coalition agreements between registered political parties.
Although negotiations between ODM and UDA are ongoing, neither party has formally announced the conclusion of a coalition agreement or unveiled a joint manifesto.