ODM party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, has revealed the possibility of initiating formal negotiations with other political parties, especially Ruto’s UDA, as the party positions itself for the 2027 elections.
In a press briefing delivered on 12th January, hours after ODM held a Central Management Committee meeting in Vipingo, Kilifi County, Oburu revealed the party’s intentions of strengthening its position by forming political alliances.
“This year, 2026, is the year of negotiations. Either we are going into a partnership with UDA or any other partners, or we are going alone as ODM. We are not going to wait for 2027 to decide. The committee has given me the go-ahead to commence intense negotiations, starting with UDA, with a view to building an alliance for the 2027 Elections.” Oburu said.
Through the post-meeting presser, Oburu’s message strengthens the party’s broad-based arrangement that was initiated by Raila before his death in October last year, toward a more structured pre-election pact.
According to internal sources within ODM, this decision emerged during the party’s earlier consultative session in Kilifi.
Honouring Raila Odinga’s Footsteps
Oburu’s collaboration statement comes as ODM reviews its 10-point agenda from the broad-based deal that also includes compensation for protest victims. According to Oburu, this decision aligns perfectly with ODM’s political agenda, including collaboration between ODM and UDA, an arrangement that was initiated under the leadership of the late Raila Odinga.
Political analysts view Oburu’s statement as an early effort to avoid opposition marginalisation in the future, besides pushing for a shift toward formalising a pre-election pact.
Furthermore, this can also be viewed as a political strategy to maintain the party’s independence while also establishing political alliances that will enhance its national influence after 2027.
