What awaits Kenya Kwanza-ODM team on power sharing

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]

As the Kenya Kwanza-Orange Democratic Movement technical teams focus on policy planning, ODM leadership has publicly indicated that its key negotiating priorities for the broader alliance include securing the 2027 Deputy President running mate slot and a 50-50 distribution of key Cabinet and diplomatic positions.

Analysts say the announcement is likely to affect the deliberations of the 10-member joint committee, causing disgruntlement and potentially triggering a fallout.

“If what transpired at the broad-based government retreat in Naivasha is anything to go by, the friction and potential fallout in the power-sharing committee are imminent,” observes Joseph Omondi, a leadership and governance expert.

Omondi says the sentiments attributed to Kisii Governor Simba Arati on formalising a 50-50 political coalition between Kenya Kwanza and ODM will inform the deliberations.

“The tension and discussion at the retreat are likely to spill over to the committee since senior ODM figures have made it clear that they are eyeing the Deputy President position for the 2027 General Election,” Omondi said.

On Monday, the coalition partners picked representatives to the committee in Naivasha.

The team has incorporated the executive directors of ODM and UDA as ex-officio members.

The Kenya Kwanza side picked Emmanuel Nzai, Dr Daniel Mwai, Bramwel Simiyu, Mohammed Hassan, Dr Cecilia Ng’etich and Nicodemus Bore (ex-officio, UDA Executive Director).

ODM named Isaac Wanuge, Maryam Abdullahi Mbaruk, Leonida Kerubo Omosa, Carrey Oregonian, Prof Bernard Muok and Odour Ong’wen (ex-officio, ODM Executive Director).

Masese Kemuche, the executive director of the Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance, says that, going by recent public utterances by ODM leader Oburu Oginga, it is unlikely that the committee will agree on the power-sharing arrangement.

“Recently, Oburu made it clear that while they are backing Ruto’s re-election, the number two slot remains open for negotiation, hinting at his capability for the role,” he said.

Kemuche observed that remarks by ODM acting Secretary-General Catherine Omanyo that the party intends to use its internal democracy structures to field a candidate for the deputy presidency during the coalition talks will also inform the deliberations.

t will also be interesting to see how the committee handles the issue of electoral zoning, which ODM says will prevent messy internal competition.

ODM has been pushing for a zoning system that would block UDA from fielding candidates in traditional ODM strongholds, securing legislative numbers for both parties.