Africa-Press – Kenya. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has said the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has mandated party leader Oburu Oginga to engage in talks with President William Ruto and other political formations, starting with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Governor Wanga said the decision reflects ODM’s commitment to dialogue and national unity.
Speaking on Sunday during a church service in Gikomba, Wanga said that Oburu has been given both the authority and space to hold discussions with parties that share a similar development agenda.
“We as the ODM Party have decided to give our party leader, Oburu Oginga, the mandate and space to speak with other parties that have the same manifesto as ours, starting with the United Democratic Alliance. We have told him to speak with Ruto to move the country forward,” Wanga said.
The governor framed the move as part of a broader effort to address political divisions and promote inclusivity, saying the country should not be split between those who benefit from power and those who feel excluded.
Wanga added that the direction ODM is taking is consistent with the political path championed by former party leader Raila Odinga, who has long advocated dialogue as a means of resolving national challenges.
“We want one country that unites everyone, not one where people are divided, where others eat from inside while others are outside. We are heading in the direction that our former party leader Raila Odinga was taking us,” she said.
On January 14, United Democratic Alliance National Executive Committee formally mandated party leader President Ruto to initiate structured coalition negotiations with ODM ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The move signaled UDA’s resolve to formalise and strengthen the parties’ growing political partnership amid disquiet within the opposition outfit over whether or not to support Ruto’s re-election bid.
In a communiqué issued after a NEC meeting held in Nairobi on Wednesday, January 14, and chaired by President Ruto, the party said it had taken note of ODM’s decision to pursue formal talks with UDA within the Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
The NEC stated that it had taken note of ODM’s Central Management Committee initiating structured negotiations with the UDA to strengthen the ongoing political partnership and negotiate a coalition deal ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Following that acknowledgement, the NEC resolved to place the responsibility of steering the engagement on the party leader.
“The NEC mandated the UDA party leader to establish mechanisms for structured engagement with the ODM party to achieve the desired outcome,” the communiqué said, effectively authorising President Ruto to lead talks aimed at shaping a pre-election coalition framework.
