How UDA, ODM plan to dominate November by-elections

President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga during a past event at KICC. [File, Standard] The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) parties have embarked on a joint effort to clinch majority seats in the forthcoming by-elections amid mounting competition from a united opposition front. The Sunday Standard can now reveal that ahead of the 2027 general election, a team has also been appointed by both President Ruto and ODM party leader Raila to ensure the formation of joint positions and is working behind the scenes to ensure the reality what is poised to be a coalition government. President Ruto is expected to make public the details of the team's constitution in the run-up to the polls. And in a bid to win the lion share of the 23 elective seats in the mini-polls, UDA and ODM have embarked on a consensus approach which will see the broad-based government allies cede ground for each other in respective constituencies and wards. UDA National Elections Board (NEB) chairperson Anthony Mwaura yesterday disclosed that the two parties will be engaging in a give- and- take arrangement where each party will be ceding ground to the other with a stronger candidate or grip. This is meant to ensure that the broad-based alliance presents the most suitable candidates to take on the opposition, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and whose sights are set on the by-elections as proving grounds ahead of the 2027 general polls. "Through consensus ODM party has agreed not to field candidates in Malava constituency as well as in Baringo for the senatorial seat and in return we as UDA agreed not to field any candidates in Ugunja and Kabondo Kasipul constituencies. As both parties, we have agreed that we will not be fighting over issues but adopt consensus through dialogue," Mwaura said in an interview. A formidable team from both parties, comprising politicians and technocrats, has also been formed to spearhead the campaigns for the broad-based candidates and is working behind the scenes to neutralise any disagreements from the parties ahead of the definitive mini-polls slated for November. "We are not afraid of any party that is competing against us. All we are asking is that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) becomes an independent arbitrator. I am confident that out of all those areas that we will be having elections, our party will clinch 80 percent of the same," Mwaura said. Mwaura explained that in the just concluded UDA aspirants registrations exercise that concluded on Friday, the party managed to attract a total 72 aspirants for all the 23 elective positions in the by-elections. There are 11 contenders for the Baringo senatorial seat, including Reuben Chirchir, Sylas Kipkosgey, Daniel Kiptoo, Kimono Cherubet, Tobole Kipsah, Isaiah Kipkoros, Evans Kiprotich, Lineus Musa Kamket and Joseph Rotich. In Malava, David Athman, Leonard Shimaka, Rhyan Injendi Malulu and Simon Chimuche are in the race. A battle for Magarini could, however, be looming between the Ruto and Raila parties should they fail to agree on who stands a better chance at the ballot. "In Magarini, I am sure that our candidate will be there because it will be an injustice for him to fight all the way to the Supreme court then not get a certificate. Our candidate is the most popular, according to polls," Mwaura said. In Ugunja and Kabondo Kasipul constituencies, where the positions were declared vacant following the appointment of Opiyo Wandayi as the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and the death of Ong'ondo Were respectively, Ruto and Raila parties are said to be hammering out an arrangement that will see ODM field candidates and UDA cede ground. Notably, businessman Joseph Aluru, constituency manager Moses Omondi, lawyer MJ Okumu, Sam Okoyo and Chris Budo have all expressed interest in the Ugunja seat but ODM, which has a strong grip on the constituency, is expected to play a major role in deciding who gets the ticket. In Kasipul, businessman Philip Aroko, Robert Riaga, popularly known as Money Bior, and Boyd Were, the late MP's son have declared interest in the seat. Mwaura also divulged that in areas where there was more than one contestant, UDA will be holding party nominations beginning September 20. This, he said was the case for Baringo constituency where some of the contestants had refused to heed calls for consensus and opted for nominations. "In Baringo, we tried to hold discussions with our candidates. Deputy President and deputy party leader Kithure Kindiki tried but the candidates refused to agree on a single candidate. They want to go for nominations. That is also the case for a ward in Narok," Mwaura said. The ruling party is now set to issue provisional certificates to candidates who are unopposed tomorrow from 11am. This is mainly for contestants from Machakos, Garissa, Kajiado Central, Samburu and Tana River where the party will not be holding any nominations The announcement by Mwaura to jointly field candidates with ODM echoes that of President Ruto who said the decision was made to strengthen the broad-based government and avoid unnecessary divisions ahead of the general elections. "Sawa sawa? Kwa sababu sasa tutakuwa na uchaguzi, sisi wote tumekubaliana ODM, UDA, Kenya Kwanza, tumekubaliana tutakuwa na candidate mmoja hapa. Hakutakuwa na candidate wawili. Tutakuwa na candidate mmoja wa broad-based government, na sisi wote tutamuunga mkono," Ruto said on on Sunday, August 31, 2025, during a church service at St Peter's ACK Cathedral in Siaya County. It also comes against the backdrop of an announcement by the opposition that it will be making public its official outfit name and symbol next week in a bid to galvanise the support of the team under one umbrella identity in preparations for the by-elections and the 2027 General Election. The team, led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, is expected to officially launch their official coalition name, complete with a symbol and slogan, tomorrow. Already, DCP has unveiled lawyer Edgar Busiega to vie for the Malava parliamentary seat and Aden Mohamed for the Banisa constituency. According to the party, it has already registered more than 1.8 million members in just two months since its launch. The party's deputy leader Cleophas Malala disclosed that DCP will field candidates even in regions considered strongholds of Ruto's allies. "We have decided that we are going to field candidates in all the by-elections in Kenya, all the 22 MCA seats and all the six parliamentary by-elections. We are going to field candidates even in Nyanza region," he said.

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