Winnie Odinga Explains Why Ruto Is Pushing for a New UDA–ODM Deal
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga has explained why President William Ruto is keen on striking a fresh political deal between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), revealing that the current agreement is nearing its expiry.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Tuesday, January 27, Winnie said the cooperation deal signed between President Ruto and the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is set to expire in just 38 days.
According to her, this looming deadline is the main reason the President is eager to secure ODM’s continued political support.
Winnie explained that the 10-point agenda memorandum of understanding (MoU), which was signed on March 7, 2025, will officially lapse on March 7, 2026.
The agreement, which was signed at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), outlined a framework for political cooperation between UDA and ODM, focusing on key national issues such as governance, social justice, and anti-corruption reforms.
She noted that any discussions about a new pre-coalition arrangement or future political cooperation cannot take place unless the current agreement is fully implemented.
Winnie stressed that ODM deliberately included a clear expiry date in the MoU to allow the party to review whether the government has honoured its commitments before making any decisions ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
“That date was intentionally included so that we can sit back and assess how much progress has been made on social justice, the fight against corruption, and other critical issues before deciding what direction to take next,” Winnie said.
The EALA MP added that President Ruto’s push for a new UDA–ODM deal would be premature if the Executive fails to respect and fully implement the existing agreement.
She described the MoU as a social contract not just between political parties, but between the government and the people of Kenya.
“If the agreement is ignored or treated casually, then there is no moral or political basis to negotiate on behalf of Kenyans or ODM supporters,” she stated.
Winnie also dismissed claims that the agreement could be rendered irrelevant due to changing political circumstances, including the absence of Raila Odinga from active politics.
She insisted that the MoU was never about individuals but about addressing long-standing issues affecting ordinary Kenyans.
“This agreement cannot simply be thrown away because Raila Odinga is no longer in the picture. Its purpose goes beyond personalities,” she said.
Her remarks come at a time when there is growing speculation about ODM’s political strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.
There has also been renewed public debate over whether the ruling coalition is seeking wider political backing without first delivering on the reform promises it made to Kenyans.
Previously, ODM had laid down clear conditions before entering any negotiations with the ruling party. These included equitable power sharing, consideration of a deputy president slot, senior government appointments, and, most importantly, full implementation of the 10-point agenda agreement.
In an effort to meet these commitments, the committee overseeing the implementation of the MoU recently held a meeting at State House.
During the meeting, the team briefed President Ruto on the progress made so far in implementing the agreed reforms.
The team is expected to present a preliminary progress report on February 6, about one month before the agreement officially expires.
This report is likely to play a key role in determining whether ODM will consider any future political engagement with the ruling coalition.
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