KISUMU, Kenya — Oburu Odinga has reaffirmed his support for continued negotiations between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 General Election, citing gains from the current “broad-based” governance arrangement.
Speaking during an Eid luncheon in Kisumu on Friday, Odinga said ODM was unlikely to abandon what he described as a working political framework with President William Ruto, arguing that the partnership has already delivered tangible development outcomes in ODM strongholds.
“We are sitting down here with power. How can I leave power to go and look with shareholders?” Odinga posed, in an apparent swipe at opposition realignment efforts.
“We are negotiating with him. We are not going to go out of this arrangement called broad-based and start looking for the unknown.”
The Siaya senator framed the ongoing engagement with UDA as a pragmatic political step, suggesting that existing alliances should be consolidated before exploring new coalitions. His remarks come amid growing speculation over shifting alliances ahead of the August 2027 polls.
Odinga also publicly backed President Ruto’s recent pushback against criticism from opposition leaders, saying the Head of State had long endured attacks.
“I know that you have been abused for a long time, but I did not know that you were keeping those ‘guns’ somewhere. Now that you have released them, people are crying,” he said.
His stance was echoed by Gladys Wanga and Junet Mohammed, who both signaled ODM’s readiness to maintain political cooperation with the President.
Governor Wanga told Ruto that ODM would mobilize support for his re-election bid under what she referred to as the “Tutam” movement, further underscoring the party’s evolving posture.
Junet, in more pointed remarks, alleged that some opposition figures seeking national leadership had previously been implicated in extra-judicial killings, including cases involving bodies dumped in rivers.
He further claimed that sections of the Muslim community had faced targeted victimization under past administrations, urging voters to scrutinize the records of those seeking office.
The statements highlight deepening political divisions, even as questions persist over accountability, human rights, and the rule of law, issues that have featured prominently in Kenya’s governance discourse under the 2010 Constitution.
President Ruto is currently on a four-day development tour of the Nyanza region, a traditional ODM stronghold.
During the visit, he is expected to launch several infrastructure projects, including plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway to Kisumu and onward to Malaba, a move aimed at enhancing regional trade and connectivity.
The President has also invited Yoweri Museveni to attend the anticipated launch ceremony, signaling broader regional cooperation ambitions tied to the project.
