The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has taken a significant step toward speeding up the execution of the agreement it signed with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) by setting up a technical team.
The goal of this new team is to ensure that every commitment in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties is followed through efficiently.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon during a press briefing. He emphasized that the absence of a structured implementation team had delayed progress on the MoU’s ten-point plan.
According to Sifuna, creating this technical committee will bridge the current gap and ensure smooth coordination between ODM and UDA.
Of particular concern to the ODM leadership is the slow implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, the continued harassment of Kenyan youth, and the repeated violations of citizens’ right to peacefully demonstrate — all of which are issues the MoU was meant to address.
Sifuna, speaking alongside party leader Raila Odinga and ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga, said that the new task force would closely collaborate with UDA officials. Their joint mission is to make sure that every promise outlined in the MoU becomes a reality.
“To fast-track the implementation of the ten-point agenda in the MoU, ODM is forming a technical team to work together with our UDA counterparts and support the agreement’s rollout,” Sifuna stated.
He also noted that the MoU had already included a clause recommending such a committee, and that its absence was the main reason the agenda had stalled. The new team will also address critical national issues such as rampant corruption and misuse of public resources within the Kenya Kwanza government.
Focus on Counties and Youth Inclusion
In addition to forming the technical team, ODM has pledged to keep fighting for increased financial allocations to counties. The party wants the national government to raise county funding to no less than Ksh450 billion annually. This push is aimed at strengthening devolution and improving service delivery at the grassroots level.
ODM also called for the full implementation of the unbundling of devolved functions — meaning that counties should be given not just duties but also the resources guaranteed to them by the Constitution. The party believes this is essential to making devolution effective.
To further involve young people and find lasting solutions to the country’s challenges, ODM proposed the launch of a national inter-generational dialogue. This conference would bring together people from different age groups and backgrounds to share ideas and forge a way forward for Kenya.
This latest development comes amid rising tension within ODM, as some members appear unhappy with Raila Odinga’s close working relationship with President Ruto.
A faction within the party, led by Sifuna, has openly criticized the government for failing to honor several promises made in the MoU signed earlier this year in March.
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