ODM party leader Oburu Odinga (in cap) arrives in Malaba town atop a car for a delegates meeting in Kakmer, Busia county, January 17, 2026. /ODM




Read Also
Coach Matano impressed, Siraj finds form and purpose at KCB Football
Yego seeks golden continental exit in Accra showpiece Athletics
TOUCHLINE COLUMN: Sh42.4m storm exposes fragile foundations of Kenyan football governance Football


The Orange Democratic Movement kicked off its Western Kenya support mobilisation tour on Saturday, marking an early push to consolidate its traditional strongholds ahead of next year’s general election.

Enjoying this article? Subscribe for unlimited access to premium sports coverage.
View Plans

Dubbed Linda Ground, the two-day exercise began with a delegates’ meeting at Kakemer in Malaba town, followed by a public rally later in the afternoon.

The initiative is aimed at re-energising the party’s grassroots structures and reaffirming loyalty among its support base.

The mobilisation drive is being led by party leader Oburu Oginga, alongside joint deputy party leader and Kisii Governor Simba Arati, and national chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.

Several ODM governors and Members of Parliament are also part of the delegation.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi was also in attendance.

The leaders were joined at the delegates’ meeting by Iteso community leader Emorimori Paul Sande Emolot.

“Tumerudi ground! Lazima tulinde ground! Tulinde chama! Tulinde Kenya,” Oburu told delegates, rallying them to chant the Linda Ground slogan.ODM party leader Oburu Oginga speaking during the delegates meeting in Malaba, January 17, 2026. /ODMIteso community leader Emorimori Paul Sande Emolot with ODM party leader Oburu Oginga, January 17, 2026. /ODM




Wanga said the inter-county tour marks a critical first step in rebuilding momentum from the grassroots and strengthening the party’s structures ahead of the 2027 polls.

On Sunday, the team is scheduled to hold another delegates’ meeting at the Golf hotel in Kakamega town before addressing a public rally later in the afternoon.ODM national chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga speaking during the delegates meeting in Malaba/ODM




She said delegates, leaders and party members from across Busia county unanimously endorsed resolutions passed by ODM’s Central Committee, including a decision to initiate coalition talks with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

“This collective mandate sets our course to initiate structured talks for a pre-election coalition, assess the implementation of the 10-Point Agenda, and revitalise the party’s nationwide grassroots network,” Wanga said.

Photos shared on the party and leaders' social media platforms showed that Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino were absent from Saturday’s meeting.





Sifuna and Owino have been vocal critics of the broad-based government and have opposed any pre-election arrangement that would formally align the Raila Odinga-founded party with President Ruto.

The opposition by Sifuna and Owino persists despite the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga having signed a 10-point agenda with Ruto on March 7 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

They have, however, maintained that Raila never committed ODM to supporting Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027 and, following his death on October 15, 2025, have sought to distance themselves from any such interpretation of the pact.

Sifuna also skipped the Central Committee meeting held in Kilifi on Monday, January 12, where ODM formally sanctioned the move towards a pre-election coalition.The ODM delegates meeting in Malaba/ODM




On Wednesday, UDA’s National Executive Council approved what it termed “structured engagements” with ODM, signalling a possible finalisation of the pact, which insiders say could be sealed as early as April.

Meanwhile, the Committee on the Implementation of the Ten-Point Agenda and the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report has stepped up its activities as the first anniversary of the agreement approaches.

Top of the agenda is the full implementation of the NADCO report.

The committee, chaired by former nominated senator Agnes Zani, is racing against time to assess the status of the agreements reached on March 26, 2025.

The outcome of the review is expected to shape the direction of the ODM–UDA talks, particularly on whether the opposition party will ultimately back President Ruto’s re-election bid.