Oburu Oginga has dismissed criticism surrounding the proposed cooperation between Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and United Democratic Alliance (UDA), insisting that the discussions are focused on ensuring the party secures its rightful share in national leadership and development.
Speaking during a church service in Bondo on Sunday, March 8, 2026, the Siaya Senator revealed that ODM leaders are forming a negotiating team to push for issues contained in the 10-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2025 by William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga.
According to Oburu, the team will represent ODM’s interests in the upcoming talks linked to the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, which forms the basis of the agreement between the two sides.
“We want to negotiate so that we have something which we deserve. We do not want something from the mountain. We do not want your share. We just want our share as ODM,” Oburu said.
He emphasized that the party leadership is already preparing the team that will steer the negotiations.
“We are going to continue to negotiate, and we are preparing a negotiating team, and we are working very hard,” he added.
Clarification on the March 7 Date
Oburu also addressed speculation surrounding March 7, 2026, which some critics had interpreted as a deadline for the ODM-UDA arrangement.
He clarified that the date was not the end of the agreement but rather a scheduled moment to review progress made under the 10-point agenda.
“Some people were saying that the 10-point agenda is coming to an end on the seventh. I want to tell my people that the seventh was chosen deliberately because it was the anniversary of the broad-based government,” he explained.
He added that ODM leaders had already reviewed the progress report together with the President and acknowledged that significant steps had been made in implementing parts of the agreement.
Focus on Strengthening Devolution
The senator highlighted devolution funding as one of the key areas of progress. He noted that Parliament had approved KSh 415 billion for county allocations, a move he said strengthens devolved governance.
Oburu also revealed that ODM leaders are pushing to increase the allocation to KSh 450 billion, a figure previously championed by the late Raila Odinga.
“Devolution cannot be strengthened without giving counties money. You have to devolve money,” Oburu said.
His remarks come amid continued debate over the ODM-UDA engagement, with supporters describing it as a strategy to secure development and political influence, while critics question its long-term implications for opposition politics.
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