President William Ruto has announced that Kenya Kwanza and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have formally agreed to enter into a coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during the Broad-Based Government Principal Group media briefing on Monday, August 10, Ruto said the decision was reached following consultations within the two political parties and their respective formations.
He added that Kenya Kwanza and ODM will formulate a joint manifesto setting out their agenda for the 2027 election, further formalising the political partnership that has taken shape under the broad-based government.
“After consultations and within our respective parties and formations, the Kenya Kwanza and Orange Democratic Movement have today formally resolved to develop a joint manifesto for the next election and constitute a coalition to contest the 2027 General Election,” Ruto said.
The coalition partners are expected to name representatives from both sides to oversee and drive the coalition's agenda, as President Ruto signals the beginning of preparations for the highly anticipated 2027 General Election.
ODM has nominated Isaac Waluke, Mariam Abdulahi Mbaruk, Leonida Kerubo Omosa, Kari Orege and Benard Muok, who will serve as an ex officio member, to the coalition team.
Kenya Kwanza has named Emmanuel Nzai, Dr Daniel Mwai, Bramwel Simiyu and Dr Cecilia Ng’etich, alongside UDA Executive Director Nicodemus Bore as an ex officio member.
President Ruto said the joint technical team established with ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga will have a broader mandate than simply preparing a political manifesto. He said the document will be anchored on the shared values, priorities and policy positions of the two political formations.
The manifesto will also incorporate views and aspirations raised by Kenyans during the national conversation on Kenya Beyond Vision 2030, as well as proposals expected to be contained in the National Development Charter emerging from the process.
"Their task is not simply to produce a political document. The manifesto will draw from our shared values and priorities, while being informed by the aspirations, ideas, and priorities expressed by Kenyans, including through the national conversation on Kenya Beyond Vision 2030, and reflected in the National Development Charter that will emerge from it," stated President Ruto.
According to Ruto, the team's role will be to establish areas of common ground, reconcile issues that require consensus and develop practical policy proposals addressing the economic, social and governance concerns raised by Kenyans ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a separate process, Ruto and Oburu will each appoint five members to another team that will be responsible for developing the coalition's framework, governance structures and leadership arrangements.
The President said the second team's work will commence immediately as the two political formations move to formalise their partnership ahead of the 2027 polls.
Oburu used the occasion to emphasise that the party entered the Kenya Kwanza coalition from a position of strength, rather than weakness, arguing that ODM remains one of the country's largest political parties.
Oburu pointed to ODM's extensive grassroots network, saying the party has established structures extending to polling stations across the country.
He also recalled that the late Raila Odinga was serving as ODM's party leader when the broad-based government arrangement was initiated, describing his death as unfortunate.
According to Oburu, the partnership is also supported by areas of policy convergence, including housing and universal healthcare, which he said feature prominently in the agendas of both political formations.
Oburu further defended ODM's decision to work with Kenya Kwanza, saying President Ruto recognised the party's numerical strength as well as the quality it brings to the coalition.
"And President Ruto has also welcomed ODM with two hands because he knows that ODM not only brings numbers, but it brings quality. So I want to say that as we move on forward, those who thought that ODM was going to be swallowed, they should re-think," Oburu stated.
The latest move marks a significant step in formalising the partnership between Kenya Kwanza and ODM, with the two sides now expected to coordinate their political activities and develop a joint strategy ahead of the polls.
