Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) under African Union envoy Raila Odinga, has hinted at forming a merger with Jubilee, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta after the latter formed a post-election coalition with Senator Gideon Moi's Kenya African National Union (KANU).
Reports of the ODM, Jubilee merger surfaced in April 2020, with Deputy President William Ruto (Jubilee) strongly criticising reports, terming them as propaganda.
On Wednesday, May 13, ODM's Secretary-General, Edwin Sifuna disclosed to The Standard that his party was weighing options of merging with Jubilee and other parties that share similar ideologies like Kanu.
"The relationship between resident Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila is still intact. The two still have an unaccomplished political agenda to pursue before 2022.
"Coalition governments are usually formed when no single political party has a clear majority and competing parties instead negotiate to work together," Sifuna stated, adding that their party leader, Raila Odinga, would be the one to direct the party on any new formations.
ODM Chairman, John Mbadi disclosed that the pact had not yet been formalized, as ODM was still keen on fighting for electoral justices.
"ODM has a right as a political ideology. Let the Jubilee members who have been busy building walls instead of bridges sort out their own political tribulations. ODM will go into negotiations for coalitions with Raila Odinga as our presidential candidate. We have never picked a new one," Mbadi stated, adding that Kenyans should be ready to witness a formal Raila-Uhuru coalition.
Before Kanu merged with Jubilee, speculations were rife on a Jubilee-ODM merger, which Deputy President William Ruto and his allies vehemently opposed.
"Our progressive constitution vests power in party organs, not personalities. Jubilee, the governing party, has no room for selfish evil experiments meant to benefit brokers and their ilk," Ruto tweeted.
"Others are taking advantage of the fact that the High Court is not accessible with Covid-19 to change Jubilee Party. officials ahead of the merger with ODM and KANU. Roho Chafu! (unclean hearts)," Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria posted on Facebook.
On Monday morning, May 11, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka disclosed that his party would welcome a post-election coalition agreement with the ruling Jubilee Party and the Kenya National African Union (Kanu).
"Wiper will be ready to enter into a cooperation agreement with both Kanu and Jubilee when that time comes. We are open to that. We had our national executive council meeting virtually and we agreed that we need to open negotiations and be able to move in that direction," Kalonzo disclosed, in an interview with Citizen TV.
