NAIVASHA, Kenya — ODM party leader Oburu Odinga has challenged political leaders who remain undecided over the party’s alliance with President William Ruto to take a clear position, saying there is no room for “fence sitters” within the political arrangement.
Speaking in Naivasha on Monday, Oburu said ODM’s decision to work with Ruto was driven by political realities and urged those with reservations to raise their concerns openly rather than remain ambivalent about the alliance.
The ODM leader said the party had previously failed to secure the presidency but had accepted the outcome and moved on, eventually finding itself working with its former political rival.
“We missed the presidency, and we said it is okay, life must move on. And Ruto could feel our presence on the streets, but as fate could have it, we are together and we are now tied together by this umbilical cord,” Oburu said.
He urged members and political allies who disagreed with the arrangement to speak openly and decide whether they supported the cooperation between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“We must urge that let us be straightforward. If you have an issue that you want to raise, raise it honestly. Do not be a fence sitter. Decide where you are because we want to know who is with us and who is not with us,” he said.
Oburu defends ODM’s political record
Oburu also defended ODM’s longevity and organisational structure, portraying the party as one of Kenya’s most established political formations.
He linked the party’s history to Kenya’s broader struggle for multiparty democracy, recalling periods when political competition was restricted, and opposition parties faced significant challenges.
The ODM leader said Kenyans had fought to end oppressive laws and restore multiparty politics, resulting in the registration of numerous political parties over the years.
However, he criticised some newer political outfits as “briefcase parties” that emerge around election periods before disappearing after elections.
“Many parties were registered, some are briefcase parties that only appear during elections and are folded at the end of the day. Our party is the longest-serving party. We are organised from the grassroots all the way to the polling stations,” Oburu said.
He argued that ODM’s grassroots structure and organisational resilience had helped it survive changing political alliances and electoral cycles.
ODM-Ruto alliance
Oburu’s remarks come as ODM continues to deepen its cooperation with President Ruto’s administration, an alliance that has significantly reshaped Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The cooperation has brought together politicians who were previously on opposing sides of the political divide, while also triggering debate within opposition circles and among some ODM supporters.
Oburu said political disagreements should not be hidden and encouraged those opposed to the arrangement to make their positions known.
He also suggested that ODM’s organisational model had attracted interest from other political actors seeking to strengthen their own parties.
“Many people admire us because they want to copy what we are doing,” he said.
The comments underscore the growing political realignments ahead of 2027, with ODM’s cooperation with Ruto expected to remain a major factor in determining alliances, candidate selection and the shape of the opposition in the run-up to the election.
