President William Ruto has reaffirmed the cooperation between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, saying the partnership is aimed at uniting the country and ending divisive politics.
Speaking during a church service at ACK St. Michael’s and All Angels Cathedral in Bondo, Ruto said the cooperation between the two parties is based on mutual respect, on what he termed as a relationship of equals, even as the parties advance talks for a partnership leading to the 2027 general elections.
“I did commit that we are going to be faithful to our relationship. It is going to be a relationship with a win-win outcome,” Ruto stated.
His statements come at a time when a dissenting faction of the ODM party is faulting the relationship between the two parties, with others warning that the ODM party risks being turned into a village party if it advances negotiations with the UDA.
The head of state insisted the government had already made progress on the cooperation agenda agreed between the two sides and would soon present a report, even as some ODM members accused him of ignoring the 10-point agenda signed between Ruto and the former prime minister, Raila Odinga.
“We are going to tell the citizens of our nation what we have achieved as broadbased on Tuesday. We welcome the naysayers to come and listen to us. We have executed the 10-point agenda and we have a report to the members of our political parties and the public on what has been done,” the head of state added.
According to the President, the report reflects the realities facing the country and will guide future collaboration.
The committee mandated to oversee the implementation of the 10-point10-point agenda is expected to present a report on progress on Tuesday, March 10, to President Ruto and ODM leader Oburu Odinga.
However, while noting that the pact will be on a win-win basis, the president did not clarify the ODM party’s demand for the deputy president’s position in the new talks.
Leaders present at the church service said the one-year cooperation under the broad-based government has benefited the region.
“There are many things to show for this partnership. Today we are talking about the Rironi-Mau Summit dualling, we are talking about the SGR coming to Kisumu, we are talking about the Jaramogi Odinga Odinga hospital being a level 6 facility,” Homabay governor and ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga stated.
At his party, Oburu noted that the agreement has secured the region’s development, asserting that ODM intends to remain in the partnership to bolster the region’s growth through the government’s support.
“We are ahead of leaders. Leaders are still procrastinating and we are in this broad-based arrangement where Raila left us and we are not going to leave it soon,” he said.
Ruto’s clarification comes amid concerns about whether the ODM party would continue with the cooperation, especially after the lapse of one year after the signing of the MoU.
A section of party members led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has declared that the cooperation had ended following the lapse. On the other hand, Oburu Odinga and Governor Wanga have maintained that there was no timeline for the end of the cooperation, insisting that they will just celebrate the one-year anniversary of the cooperation agreement.