The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has given President William Ruto, the party leader, the green light to enter structured negotiations with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to formalise a coalition agreement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision was made during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Wednesday, where members were briefed on the outcome of the recently concluded grassroots elections conducted across 20 counties on January 10.
"We are establishing mechanisms for structured engagement with the ODM Party to deepen political cooperation, build consensus on shared priorities, and provide a clear framework for dialogue, coordination, and partnership," President Ruto said following the directive.
"The objective is to strengthen the ongoing political partnership, support stable governance, and lay the foundation for a formal coalition arrangement ahead of the 2027 General Election."
The developments come just three days after ODM announced plans to open structured negotiations with other political formations, including the UDA, ahead of the next general election.
The resolution was made on Monday, January 12, after a gathering of the ODM Central Committee in Kilifi County, where party leaders took stock of the party’s political standing, organisational health, and overall strategic direction.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Oburu Oginga, on behalf of the Central Committee, said it had resolved to pursue pre-election political alliances as part of ODM’s broader strategy to strengthen its national footing.
On the political partnership front, the NEC noted that UDA and ODM have been working together under the Kenya Kwanza Coalition, adopting the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) 10-point agenda report of 2024 and incorporating ODM members into government responsibilities.
The alliance has also coordinated mutual support for candidates, contributing to the coalition’s sweep of all Senate and National Assembly seats contested during the November 27, 2025, by-elections.
With ODM now initiating structured negotiations with UDA to formalise a coalition agreement, the NEC mandated President Ruto to establish mechanisms to achieve the desired outcome and strengthen the partnership ahead of the 2027 polls.
Meanwhile, the UDA NEC received reports from the National Elections Board (NEB) and the Electoral and Nomination Dispute Resolution Committee (ENDRC), noting that 492,439 candidates contested for 231,770 seats in 17,953 polling centres, with 2.4 million party members participating.
Of those elected, 56 per cent were male, 44 per cent female, and 33 per cent youth, reflecting UDA’s commitment to inclusivity in party leadership at the grassroots level.
The NEC directed the NEB to organise repeat elections within 30 days in polling centres where elections were incomplete or had low participation, followed by ward-level elections across the country. A calendar will also be developed for member sensitisation and aspirant registration.
