Migori Senator Eddy Oketch has affirmed that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee’s (CMC) decision to initiate pre-coalition talks with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) reflects the official party position.
Speaking on a local TV station on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Oketch emphasized that the resolution, which tasks ODM Party Leader Oburu Odinga to lead negotiations with UDA, carries significant weight as the party prepares for the 2027 general election.
“ODM’s position is black and white. The official stance was given yesterday by the CMC,” Oketch said. He described the decision as strategic, setting the stage for the party’s next electoral cycle.
The decision emerged from the CMC meeting held in Vipingo, Kilifi County, chaired by Oburu Odinga. Among the resolutions, a key move was to start structured pre-coalition discussions with other political parties, particularly UDA, to define ODM’s positioning ahead of 2027.
The party plans to launch public engagements, beginning with a rally in Kibra this week. These activities will culminate in a National Delegate Conference (NDC), which will formally endorse the outcomes of the engagements and the party leader’s direction.
The initiative has received backing from several ODM MPs, including Ruaraka MP Otile Kajwang, Makadara MP George Aladwa, and Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who urged Secretary General Edwin Sifuna to adhere strictly to the party line.
However, not all party leaders are on board. Siaya Governor James Orengo expressed concerns that entering a coalition with UDA could reduce ODM to a regional party limited to its Luo stronghold. He stressed that if ODM were to form a coalition, it should do so from a position of strength as the dominant partner.
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