UDA Approves Talks With ODM on Coalition Deal Ahead of 2027 Elections
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has formally allowed President William Ruto, who is also the party leader, to begin structured negotiations with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) aimed at forming a coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
This decision was reached during a meeting of the UDA National Executive Committee (NEC) held on Wednesday. During the meeting, party officials were also briefed on the outcome of the recently concluded grassroots elections, which were conducted in 20 counties on January 10.
Speaking after the meeting, President Ruto said the party had agreed to put in place clear systems to guide talks with ODM. He explained that the discussions are meant to deepen political cooperation, promote shared national priorities, and create an organised framework for dialogue, coordination, and long-term partnership between the two parties.
According to the President, the main goal of the talks is to strengthen the existing political partnership, support stable governance, and lay a strong foundation for a formal coalition arrangement ahead of the 2027 elections.
These developments come shortly after ODM announced that it was ready to begin structured negotiations with other political parties, including UDA. ODM made this decision on Monday, January 12, following a meeting of its Central Committee held in Kilifi County.
During the Kilifi meeting, ODM leaders reviewed the party’s political position, internal organisation, and overall strategy as it prepares for future elections.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Oburu Oginga, speaking on behalf of the Central Committee, said the party had agreed to actively pursue pre-election political alliances as part of a broader plan to strengthen ODM’s presence and influence across the country.
On the current political cooperation between the two parties, the UDA NEC noted that UDA and ODM have already been working together under the Kenya Kwanza Coalition framework.
This cooperation includes the adoption of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) 10-point agenda report of 2024 and the inclusion of ODM members in various government roles.
The partnership has also seen the two parties support each other’s candidates during elections. This collaboration contributed to Kenya Kwanza winning all the Senate and National Assembly seats that were contested during the November 27, 2025 by-elections.
With ODM now officially moving to formalise coalition talks, the UDA NEC mandated President Ruto to establish the necessary mechanisms to guide the negotiations and ensure the partnership is strengthened well ahead of the 2027 polls.
Meanwhile, the NEC also received reports from the National Elections Board (NEB) and the Electoral and Nomination Dispute Resolution Committee (ENDRC) regarding the recently held grassroots elections.
According to the reports, a total of 492,439 candidates contested for 231,770 party positions across 17,953 polling centres, with about 2.4 million registered party members taking part in the exercise.
The results showed that 56 per cent of those elected were men, while 44 per cent were women. Youth made up 33 per cent of the elected leaders, a figure the party said reflects its commitment to inclusivity and balanced representation at the grassroots level.
The NEC directed the NEB to organise repeat elections within 30 days in polling centres where voting was either incomplete or recorded low turnout.
After that, ward-level elections will be conducted nationwide. The party also resolved to develop a clear calendar for member sensitisation and aspirant registration to ensure smoother future electoral processes.
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