Africa-Press – Kenya. Luo leaders have formally endorsed the Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) decision to initiate structured talks with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), giving party leader Oburu Oginga a mandate to engage the government in pursuit of national stability and community development.
The endorsement was made during the Luo Leaders Forum held in Kisumu.
The forum brought together leaders drawn from across various sectors across the four counties of Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay to reflect on the political and socio-economic future of the community and the party.
Resolutions from the forum were read by Mathare Member of Parliament Anthony Oluoch, who said the leaders were united on the need for cohesion, disciplined leadership and strategic political engagement at the national level.
The leaders reaffirmed unity as a central pillar in strengthening the community’s influence in national discourse and its ability to attract development.
They pledged to promote harmony, mutual respect and a shared sense of purpose across political and generational lines, warning that internal divisions weaken their collective bargaining power.
On political engagement, the forum unequivocally backed a resolution by ODM’s Central Committee to commence structured engagement with like-minded political parties, beginning with UDA.
The leaders said the move is aimed at promoting national stability, inclusivity and the advancement of the community’s interests in national affairs.
They stressed that the engagement would be consultative and issue-based, anchored on development priorities rather than political expediency.
The forum also expressed full confidence in ODM leadership under Dr Oburu, calling for respect for party leadership and organs as a means of harmonising voices, maintaining discipline and projecting clarity and unity in the party’s political positions.
As part of the resolutions, the leaders mandated the ODM party leader to undertake structured engagements across the country to deepen and strengthen the party, build national consensus and rally support around a shared development agenda.
They said the engagements should prioritise youth empowerment, economic inclusion, education, infrastructure development and social justice, describing these areas as critical to the socio-economic transformation of both the community and the country.
The leaders further expressed full support for the ODM–UDA Ten-Point Agenda, terming it a comprehensive framework for cooperation, national stability and inclusive governance.
The meeting comes amid growing national debate over cross-party cooperation and realignments, with ODM’s engagement with UDA drawing both support and criticism across the political divide.
