NAIROBI, Kenya—President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga are expected to seal a political alliance today.
This move will see ODM formally join the government and reshape Kenya’s political landscape.
Sources indicate that the deal will grant ODM a near-equal stake in government, with Raila poised to nominate at least three more Cabinet Secretaries.
The agreement effectively removes ODM from the opposition, ending speculation that Raila could join efforts to unseat Ruto in 2027.
The agreement will reportedly see ODM take control of 50 percent of government appointments, including key Cabinet, principal secretaries, and ambassadorial positions.
A source familiar with the negotiations likened the deal to the 2008 National Accord, which saw Raila and then-President Mwai Kibaki share power.
The deal is also expected to trigger major political realignments.
It sidelines Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, both of whom had been courting Raila for a separate coalition.
With ODM now formally aligned with Ruto, Kalonzo and Gachagua face a tougher battle consolidating opposition forces against the president.
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly attempted to dissuade Raila from joining hands with Ruto in a last-minute meeting at the Coast earlier this week.
Meanwhile, ODM’s radical youth wing, the Movement for the Defence of Democracy (MDD), warned against external attempts to pressure Raila into abandoning the deal.
“We refuse the frequent attempts to use Mr. Odinga and his support base as a political ladder,” MDD convener Victor Marende stated.
The deal follows a series of consultative meetings by Raila across ODM strongholds, including Kisumu, Mombasa, Wajir, and Nairobi.
The former prime minister had been weighing his political future amid competing alliances, with Gachagua even suggesting that Raila would secure the presidency “before 11 am” in 2027 if he joined the anti-Ruto camp.
However, Raila has since dismissed any possibility of working with the impeached DP.
“The other man said he had set traps everywhere to stop me from reaching State House. Do you want us to work with someone who set traps for me? Impossible,” Raila declared on Wednesday.
The coalition agreement is the result of weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, reportedly led by UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar and his ODM counterpart, Senator Edwin Sifuna.
It is expected to outline the framework for cooperation between the ruling UDA and ODM, with parliamentary leaders also playing a role in the power-sharing structure.
With the signing set for today, Kenya’s political terrain is set for a seismic shift, with Raila transitioning from opposition leader to a key partner in Ruto’s administration.
