By Anderson Ojwang
A scramble for political alliance with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ahead of the 2027 General Elections is likely to begin in earnest.
This is after the acting party leader, Dr Oburu Odinga, in a television interview on Sunday, said ODM was still in the broad-based government arrangement but was open to any suitor ahead of the 2027 elections.
Oburu said currently ODM was in the broad-based government and would watch how the political formation with President William Ruto rolled out ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
The declaration is likely to thaw the current political storm in the party, with one wing vouching for President William Ruto as the party’s automatic presidential candidate or coalition partner, while the other divide wants the party to present its own presidential candidate or negotiate with a possible winning coalition.
The ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, Director of Elections and Minority Leader Junet Mohammed, Alego MP Sam Atandi, Nyando MP Jared Okello, and Migori Senator Eddy Muok, among others, form the pro-Ruto wing.
The other wing consists of ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Deputy Organising Secretary Ruth Odinga, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, among others.
Oburu said “We have a clear position that in 2027, when the time comes, we will have a pre-election or post-election coalition and we shall discuss.
For now, we are concentrating on staying in the broad-based government, which we have with UDA, and the issues we are tackling are on the 10-point agenda.
We have not moved out of that, and we have not said anything more than that.
If at that time, in 2027, Ruto comes and joins ODM — you know he is a founder member of ODM — and he wants to vie on the party ticket, we will subject him to the rule.”
Oburu said the current arrangement does not speak about the 2027 presidential elections and coalition.
“Once the framework is implemented fully, then 2027 will take care of itself. In 2027, you will see people jostling, and it will be very difficult to form any government in Kenya without a coalition.
Even this government, before we joined it, had parties within it. You will see political parties going for strong formations.
At that time, ODM will be relevant as friends. If it is weak, swallowed, nobody will want to talk to you.
We could join any formation, including UDA. We are going to talk to anybody, including UDA. It depends on how we work to implement what we have agreed on. Whether they will be the most suitable partners or not will be seen based on the agenda we will have with them.
If they build this relationship, gel, and work together, there is nothing to prevent us from working together to win the next election.
If we feel we were given a raw deal and have not worked well at the end of our arrangement, then we have options to talk to other people.
We have not tied ourselves hand and foot to an arrangement that makes it difficult for our party to talk to anyone else in case we are not in agreement with the implementation.
If we feel we have been given a raw deal in terms of development, justice, and so on, then we are free to join with other formations.
We are not saying we are not going to work with Ruto because he is one of the options that is there and open for us to continue.”
Oburu said the party’s position on supporting President Ruto’s second term was yet to be communicated and that those of the party officials and cabinet secretaries were individual expressions.
“Those of us who are in government, like John Mbadi and Opiyo Wandayi, are now part of the administration, and they do not speak for the party.
The President is their boss. They don’t speak for the party, and they resigned from their positions.
Raila Odinga’s official position is concurrent with what the party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has been saying.
Which leaders said two terms? CS Opiyo Wandayi, John Mbadi, and the rest resigned when they joined the government.
I have heard Gladys Wanga say ODM will be on the ballot in 2027, and even Junet Mohamed. Maybe there are circumstances where they have said Ruto will be the automatic candidate for 2027 — it could have escaped my attention.
What I know is that these are senior officials of the party, and what I am telling you is the official position. So what Sifuna said, he was right, because that is the correct position, and he is not isolated. This is not the time to remove any member from the party, and Sifuna is doing a good job.
People can speak what they want. They can be excited to speak their own perceptions. The ODM party has a 10-point memorandum which they signed with UDA for them to participate in the broad-based government.
For this, participation in the broad-based government does not talk about 2027. What it talks about is the implementation of people-oriented issues.”
Oburu said he had embarked on reconciling the party and building bridges.
“We are going to build bridges to end the infighting within the party, and that does not mean the party needs to consolidate more.
People will only want to talk to you when you are strong. That is why I am pleading with my people, and I would want to unite them and strengthen ODM,
so that ODM is relevant to acquire power by itself or be part of a coalition with other parties. But we will be in government.
Because there is no political party that is formed to be in the opposition. You try your best to be in the best.”
