Nairobi, Kenya – National Assembly Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro has sought to clear the air over the agreement between Kenya Kwanza and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), insisting it is a structured collaboration rather than a political coalition.
Speaking during the announcement of the deal, Osoro termed the day as “historic,” emphasizing that the arrangement is purely a working framework to guide engagement between the ruling alliance and ODM until the 2027 general election.
“This is not a coalition. It is a working framework that will define how we engage between now and 2027,” Osoro stated.
Osoro acknowledged that ODM members have already been informally working with the government.
The new framework, he said, seeks to give structure to this cooperation, particularly regarding government appointments.
He pointed out that Kenya Kwanza had advertised positions, and ODM members had been included in the process.
Despite ODM and Kenya Kwanza having been on opposing sides in Parliament, Osoro maintained that the new agreement is strictly about governance, not election politics.
“We used to attack each other in Parliament, but now we have a working framework to guide collaboration,” he added.
The deal will extend beyond the executive branch, with ODM set to take up key leadership positions in parliamentary committees.
This marks a significant shift in the political landscape, where opposition MPs will now have greater influence in shaping legislative agendas.
On Friday morning, President William Ruto convened a meeting at State House with 170 Kenya Kwanza MPs, briefing them on the details of the agreement.
The meeting was attended by top government officials, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
Ruto urged leaders to prioritize national unity over political rivalry.
“This is the time to put Kenya and its people first. We must work together, beyond our political affiliations, to take the country forward,” Ruto said in a message on X.
This is the time to put Kenya and the people ahead of any other consideration.We will work together, our political inclinations notwithstanding, to take our country forward.Kenya, and the people, must succeed.At State House, Nairobi, chaired the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary…
The meeting came amid speculation over government appointments potentially going to ODM allies, with some Kenya Kwanza members reportedly uneasy about the arrangement.
However, Ruto sought to downplay concerns, emphasizing that the partnership was in the country’s best interest.
ODM leader Raila Odinga has been engaging his party’s grassroots supporters in recent weeks, reportedly to secure backing for the deal.
On Friday, he met top ODM officials at the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC), where discussions centered on the way forward for the party in light of the new arrangement.
As part of the agreement, Kenya Kwanza has already handed over some parliamentary committee leadership positions to ODM, with expectations that Raila will nominate allies for government roles in the coming days.
