Founding members of the Orange Democratic Movement have urged the party to embrace a political alliance ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during the ODM Founders' Dinner in Mombasa, they cautioned that the shifting political landscape demands a strategic alliance to keep the outfit competitive.
The dinner, presided over by President William Ruto, was part of Orange Party’s 20-year celebrations.
Other founding members who attended the high-level dinner were Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, former Thika Town mayor Mumbi Ngaru and former Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey, who also doubles as the first national chairman.
The veterans, some of whom have left the outfit, said ODM’s historical strength has always rested on alliances, arguing that going solo in 2027 would be counterproductive.
They cited the 2013, 2017 and 2022 elections, where the party entered into Cord, Nasa and Azimio alliances respectively.
Ruto urged ODM to follow the spirit of Raila and embrace dialogue for the sake of national stability, saying Kenya’s future demands cooperation over confrontation.
The President praised Raila’s longstanding record of building bridges across political divides, noting that the country made its biggest democratic strides whenever leaders chose consensus over conflict.
Ruto used the platform to extend an olive branch, saying Kenya’s democracy is stronger when leaders engage across party lines.
“I want you to ask yourself how comes Baba worked with President Moi, Kibaki, Uhuru and Ruto. It is because he always transcended political competitions and reached out for the good of the nation,” he said.
“I have no apology to make that today, ODM and UDA are running the same government. We have the same agenda. Let us push together.”
Kosgey, who has joined the ruling UDA, urged ODM to read the mood of the nation if it hopes to remain influential going forward.
The former Tinderet MP said the party should consider making the broad-based alliance their 2027 political vehicle under President Ruto.
“I am going to offer advice as an old man. 2027 should be broad-based. You can baptise it whatever you want but be in the broad-based. We have been together anyway, let us stay together as one nation,” Kosgey said.
“Baba left you in broad-based government, stay in broad based government. You see in 2013 you are in Cord, 2027 you formed Nasa and 2022 you were in Azimio la Umoja. So in 2027, be in broad-based.”
Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi said just like Raila used to embrace partnerships, the party should not be shy from coalition-building for the sake of the country.
“Dialogue, conversation and coalition-building is not a bad thing. What is key is that at the end of the day, let us uphold the constitutionalism and ensure the country moves forward,” Mudavadi said.
“For ODM at 20, you are not a toddler. You are adults. ODM has come of age.”
Insiders read the remarks as a subtle signal that overtures between UDA and ODM may be moving from speculation to structured political conversation.
The remarks mirror sentiments from a growing faction in ODM leadership, which insists that party will either form the next government or be part of the coalition that will form the government in 2027.
ODM officials Oburu Oginga (acting party leader), Gladys Wanga (national chairperson), Simba Arati (deputy leader) and Abdulswamada Nassir say the party will be part of the next government.
“Raila left us with a very precious gold, the ODM party, and he left us with a message of unity,” Oburu said.
"We have to unite, and I’m telling people of ODM all over the country that if you don’t unite, nobody will respect you. If you are a weak party, nobody will want to negotiate with you."
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