Broad-based coalition faces fresh hurdles as ODM, UDA leaders harden stance

President William Ruto, ODM Leader Oburu Oginga and Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwah during the UDA-ODM retreat at Lake Naivasha Resort in Nakuru County. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Even before the coalition committee initiates the rules of engagement to kick-start the pre-coalition talks between the ruling UDA and the ODM party ahead of next year’s polls, the committee faces hurdle after leaders from the two parties have picked hard-line positions on certain thematic areas that the committee is tasked with resolving.

The 10-member committee is tasked with negotiating on the power-sharing framework after drafting a harmonized manifesto and a joint campaign and governance document combining policies from both the Kenya Kwanza and ODM platforms, focusing on socio-economic stability, youth empowerment, and debt management.

However, leaders from the two parties have ruled out negotiating on zoning, the Deputy Presidency post, and 50 per cent power sharing between the two parties, the very same areas that the committee is supposed to address.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has maintained that his position is not vacant and that he held the position in trust of Mt Kenya region communities, while ODM leader Oburu Oginga has hinted at working with the United Opposition if negotiations do not go the ODM way.

For Kindiki, his position was not up for grabs. Without mincing his words, the second in command maintained that it was not a matter of begging to be Ruto’s running mate since he had ably acted his roles as Ruto’s Principal assistant.

“When Rigathi Gachagua was impeached, President Ruto returned the DP post to Mt Kenya region since the position did not belong to Gachagua; it is not mine either, I'm only holding it in trust of this community,” he told Council of elders drawn from Mt Kenya East.

Kindiki urged Mt Kenya East to re-elect Ruto, saying the move would increase a presidential bid in the 2032 succession game plan.

“For us who come from Mt Kenya East, supporting Ruto for a second term is not an option; it's a must because voting Ruto next year is voting for ourselves since he will serve his last term and we shall take over from him in 2032,” he said.

While dismissing leaders salivating for his position, Kindiki reiterated that he would not be moved by ‘the political noise makers’, saying he would continue to firmly discharge his duties.

“I will not let you down; I will not fail you. I will do my work well and make you proud, even those making noise also that I’m best placed for the job. We shall continue being there and we are not begging; I wish to inform them that the position of the Deputy President is not vacant. It has an owner and it is well occupied,” he said.

 Oburu also fired a salvo against Kindiki, maintaining that the ODM party was not targeting him but his position which he maintained will be open after the elections begins

“During negotiations, everybody, including Kindiki, will come to the table and show what he has. He can’t claim we are targeting him because his position will be vacant once elections come, once negotiations come, he shall have served his time,” Oburu told Tv 47 in an interview.

He maintained that while Kindiki had done a good job, that was not the only qualification to deputize Ruto, saying he had the strength, wisdom and the experience to occupy the Deputy Presidency post.

In yet another irreducible minimum that may be problematic to the pre-election negotiations committee, Oburu maintained that ODM will not allow UDA to sponsor candidates in the historical ODM stronghold areas.

He said he was open to working with the United Opposition leaders such as Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Jubilee Deputy Party leader Fred Matiangi, having worked with them in the past.

“There would be a lot of alignments and realignments towards the election; these people I have worked with- they are our colleagues, Kalonzo, Matiangi- all these people we know, and I cannot rule out working with any of them in the future.

He admitted that if the Opposition settled on Kalonzo, he would be Ruto’s biggest nightmare but exuded confidence that Ruto would still secure his second term.

“If all the other opposition members support him, it is a challenge but not insurmountable,” he said.

He described Kalonzo as a good man but a leader who ‘sometimes misjudges his steps’ faulting him for turning down the offer to join the broad-based government.

“He is a good person but he sometimes misjudges his steps but I have no problem with him. He misjudges because when we were trying to stabilize the country by coming into this broad-based arrangement, we were with him and Raila and the reasons why we are coming to this broad-based arrangement were sound enough. He decided not to go with us and I thought that was a misjudgment,” he said.

Oburu’s positive remarks on Kalonzo and his admission that he was ready to work with the Opposition have been interpreted as a subtle threat to Ruto that his ODM party was not short of options to approach the 2027 general election.

Other leaders from the ODM have pointed out that zoning will not be a subject of negotiations and that they would not listen to any justification to suggest otherwise.

Makadara MP George Aladwa maintained zoning was a must, arguing that it is key to streamlining cooperation ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He said the zoning framework is intended to reduce political friction by clearly defining areas of influence in the allocation of elective positions such as governorships and parliamentary seats across counties.

Aladwa noted that the approach would help streamline coordination between ODM and UDA in key regions rather than open competition, particularly in politically sensitive counties including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Kakamega.

“Zoning is a must. It helps us avoid unnecessary conflict and confusion during nominations in key areas,” he said.

He added that structured zoning would stabilize political engagement by ensuring campaigns and nominations are guided by negotiated agreements rather than rivalry that could strain coalition cooperation.

Zoning is about order, not exclusion. It ensures every area is managed in a way that supports unity and delivery,” he said.

Aladwa further argued that the arrangement would minimize internal disputes during party nominations while promoting predictable political processes within the coalition framework.

He maintained that Nairobi County remains a key strategic area for ODM, even as wider national negotiations continue on how political space will be shared between coalition partners.

But UDA has rejected ODM's calls for zoning, with the party’s Secretary General Hassan Omar insisting that every political party had the right to field candidates anywhere in the country.

“ODM is saying the Coast is their stronghold and it should be left to them. I want to tell them that the Coast region belongs to its residents. They should allow us to compete fairly,” Omar said.

If you believe this is your stronghold, then why are you worried? Come, campaign, and win. There is no problem,” he added.