President William Ruto has moved to quell fears among UDA party members over their role in upcoming coalition negotiations with the ODM ahead of the 2027 General Election, assuring them that the party’s core interests remain intact.
The move comes amid growing unease among some party stalwarts who fear that their contributions and positions could be overshadowed in a potential power-sharing deal with ODM.
Ruto has initiated talks with ODM party leader Oburu Oginga, with plans in place to sign a pre-coalition agreement ahead of 2027.
Several party members have privately expressed anxiety that, without careful representation, those who have been foundational to UDA’s growth could be sidelined in favour of external allies or political newcomers.
A National Governing Council (NGC) meeting at State House on Monday became a critical platform for senior party figures to voice their concerns directly to President Ruto.
Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, in particular, raised questions about the representation of long-serving members in the negotiation team, invoking a biblical analogy to stress the importance of fairness and inclusion.
“As we go into structured negotiations, we, the children of the house, are very worried because sometimes the people who have been in the house tend to be sidelined when the other children from outside come inside,” Mungatana said.
“We don’t know the team that is being constituted by our party to go into those negotiations, but since we support you, Your Excellency, please remember the children from the house. In the biblical story, you remember they complained, the son complained, you know, people worry. So we just want you to constitute a team that will represent the worries of the children from the house.”
Mungatana’s remarks captured a wider sentiment among other party members who are keen to safeguard their positions and ensure that the party’s internal hierarchy is not undermined by external alliances.
Ruto responded with a mix of reassurance and strategic clarity.
He revealed that while the coalition talks with ODM involve compromises, the party’s key positions, including cabinet slots, elective nominations, and other strategic posts, have been carefully considered to maintain balance and reward loyalty.
The negotiations, he added, have already commenced, though in their early stages.
“I want to tell Mungatana that with the negotiations that have gone on so far, the president is still in UDA, just for your information. I don’t think there is any bigger position that you can think about than that of president,” he explained.
“They have made sure that we have balanced all the other positions appropriately.”
He added that there will be give and take.
“In any negotiation, there is give and take. But as you have said, we are going to be careful to make sure that it is win-win and not lose,” Ruto said.
The president further stressed that the distribution of positions would reflect both merit and party loyalty, with UDA’s internal stakeholders assured of meaningful roles.
“It is important that everyone knows that no one who has contributed to building this party will be left behind. We have carefully balanced all positions,” Ruto added.
Political insiders suggest that this is a deliberate move by Ruto to maintain party cohesion at a time when coalition negotiations could otherwise create friction.
The structured talks between UDA and ODM reportedly involve detailed discussions on the allocation of key elective seats, cabinet positions, and other strategic appointments.
While the exact details remain confidential, sources indicate that both parties are seeking a formula that will maximise electoral gains while respecting internal party hierarchies.
For UDA, internal cohesion is critical, especially as ODM remains a strong partner with significant grassroots support in several counties.
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