By Anderson Ojwang
What is the rush for Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to enter into pre-election pact with president Willaim Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA)
Where is the free flowing money currently being witnessed coming from and for what purpose ?
Does ODM have structure and frame work to guide the coalition negotiation or is it being driven by emotions and political blackmail?
These are some of the tough issues, the Kisumu women representative Ruth Adhiambo Odinga and which begs from answer from the party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, who is his elder brother.
Dr Oburu , was given the crown at the height of grief and what Suba South MP Caroli Omondi termed as an act of mysterious hand.
“There was a very quick transition even before Baba’s body arrived. When Mzee Oburu announced that he had accepted to be the party leader, he said he did not even know that there was a process to make him party leader.
What that implies is that, that call came from somewhere else. And that worries me a lot. This is because, it therefore seems that ODM is getting directions and controls from somewhere else,” he said.
And yesterday, Ruth wondered where the huge amount of money currently being used by the party was coming from.
“But we are seeing a situation where a lot of money is flying around, and there appears to be a deliberate approach to commit ODM party into a coalition agreement more than a year to the next general elections.
Where is the money coming from? Is it in the Budget and Appropriations Committee at the National Assembly, and I know that the government has not given ODM party money. So where is all the money coming from?”she asked.
Ruth said there was no emergency for the party to rush into pre-election coalition and that the party organs were yet to ratify the central committee resolutions.
“ODM should not be in a hurry to enter into a coalition agreement as though it is some kind of emergency. 2027 is not going anywhere. Even if ODM sits still and does nothing, 2027 will come,” she said.
She said the party leader should call the national executive committee to share the resolutions before engaging the public.
The Central Management Committee (CMC) sat a couple of days ago in Kilifi. This is a very important party organ. Next we expect the party Chairperson to call for a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting so that the leadership can get the opportunity to share ideas on the best way forward.
“We cannot purport to come to any conclusion binding party member before we have listened to the people. ODM Party is a people’s movement. Our membership stretch from Turkana to Kwale. From Wajir all the way to Isebania,” she said..
The ODM party at a Central Management Committee (CMC) meeting held in Kilifi this January 2026 resolved to initiate pre-election coalition talks with President William Ruto’s UDA party, where the party leader for ODM, Dr Oburu Odinga was tasked to lead the way.
Oburu recently led a delegation of a section of ODM officials to a rally in Kibra to seek the mandate for pre-election mandate. He later held two parallel meeting in Kakamega county over the same.
Energy and Petroleum CS Opiyo Wandayi has expressed satisfaction with the decision made by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, Central Management Committee (CMC) to begin discussions for coalition arrangement with the United Democratic Alliance party( UDA).
Wandayi said the party members have decided in one accord and going forward they are supporting that coalition talks commence between ODM and UDA parties, ahead of the 2027 polls.
“The people are only requesting that these ongoing discussions be fast-tracked so that before the 2027 polls, we enter into the pre-election coalitions agreement that will enable us to form the next government with ease,” the CS said during a public baraza held at Kendubay town in Karachuonyo constituency
Winnie Odinga recently asked the party leadership to pause the planned pre-election negotiation to allow members to engage.
“Kwenye hi safari sisi tulikuwa abiria na baba alikua driver y abasi hili. nakuna siku moja tuliamuka na tukashutka driver amekufa (In the journey, we had the passengers and Raila was the driver of the political bus. One day we woke up to sad news of the demise of the driver).
Aliaga dunia. Kidogo wale walikuwa wana keti mbele wamekimbia kwenye steering wheel kila mtu an vutia pande hi na hi ( The driver died. Within a short moment, those who were sitting on the front seats took over the steering wheel and everyone steering to a different direction)
Wame tukushukuma Sisi kama magunia. Wamesahau, tunasema ngonje ni tu baba alukufa juzi tu. Haraka ya nini bwana. Wacha tuonge kwana simamiza. Wacha tuonge kwanza. Tushonge mbele pamoja (They have thrown us outside lack a sack. They have forgotten us. We are saying wait, Baba just died the other day. What is the hurry for. Let us talk . Stop the negotiations. Let us talk and after that we can move together)” she said.
Ruth said the party leadership must start thinking of Townhall meetings for the members, listening to their concerns which must then be incorporated into the final decision the party will arrive at.
Ruth said “Those pushing for ODM party to commit itself right now may be seeing the good in it. Whether it is personal or for the benefit of all the members. But committing early means you will carry whatever blames the ruling party will be accused of.”
“As you negotiate, where is your numerical strength as a party? You may negotiate for those cabinet secretary slots, yes, but if you do not have governors or MPs, how will this work for you? That is why we need to be cautious as we approach this matter. And most importantly, at no point should we ever leave the people behind,” she said.
