ODM, Jubilee Plan On Forming Coalition Copying From William Ruto's 2013 Strategy

by Mumbi Mutuko on Monday, 12 July 2021 - 1:36 pm

From left: ODM leader Raila Odinga, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto

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Jubilee and ODM are examining the possibility of copying the 2013 coalition arrangement between TNA and Deputy President William Ruto’s URP.

The strategy saw other smaller parties join either TNA or URP to form the larger Jubilee Party.

According to reports by the Nation, this move will limit the power-sharing agreement to the two major parties.

President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) and his deputy William Ruto shake hands at State House in August 2016 after forming the Jubilee Party

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The publication mentioned that political pundits allied to the two parties argued that the move will be aided by the handshake which was initiated by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga in 2018.

This comes after ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna stated that ODM is only holding coalition talks with Jubilee Party for now.

But Sifuna stated that the coalition talks with Jubilee will only continue to happen if Jubilee backs ODM's aspirations for 2022.

"As we speak today the ODM Party is only in discussion with Jubilee Party for purposes of forming a coalition for 2022. As of now, we do not have any instructions to engage any other parties for the purposes of 2022," the ODM Secretary-General stated.

"In the event that the coalition we form with Jubilee is attractive to other parties, we will not refuse their support so that we can clinch victory in 2022. Let them come and support the new endeavour," he added.

However, the talks have not been easy after reports emerged indicating Uhuru's allies had fallen out over the ongoing coalition talks between Jubilee and ODM.

Jubilee Vice-Chairman David Murathe and Secretary-General Raphael Tuju were adamant that Uhuru sanctioned the deal between the two parties.

Tuju and Murathe represent Jubilee while ODM Chairman John Mbadi and Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna act for ODM in a committee formed to discuss the legalities of the coalition.

But MP Joshua Kutuny publicly denounced the deal, alleging that his bosses went behind Uhuru back to secretly broker the deal.

Kutuny, who is Jubilee's Deputy Secretary-General added that Uhuru was irked by the move as he was resolved to negotiate with the National Super Alliance (NASA) rather than ODM solely.