President William Ruto and ODM leader Oburu Oginga/FILEMembers of the National Assembly and senators from parties backing the broad-based administration will begin checking into a Naivasha hotel on Sunday evening.
The two-day retreat will climax on Monday when President Ruto and the ODM boss will join the team.
An internal memo from National Assembly Minority leader Junet Mohammed to members dated August 4 confirms the meeting.
“This is to inform all members of the Broad-Based Parliamentary Group that a meeting has been scheduled to take place in Naivasha, Nakuru county from 10th to 11th August, 2026.”
Sources familiar with the plan told the Star the retreat will, among others, outline the coalition's legislative priorities and rally MPs behind key government programmes.
“We are primarily putting our focus on harmonising the legislative agenda in both the National Assembly and the Senate as Parliament prepares to tackle a raft of government Bills and policy proposals,” a source told the Star.
"We want to strike a common position on priority legislation and that members move in one direction."
Besides the legislative agenda, the Naivasha retreat is also expected to discuss the performance of parliamentary committees, with sources indicating that changes to committee leadership could be announced.
“Some committee chairs are struggling to spearhead some of the key government programmes under them, we shall also look into that,” the source added.
The anticipated reshuffle is expected to affect several committee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons as the coalition seeks to align parliamentary leadership with the evolving political realities under the broad-based arrangement.
Although officials remained tight-lipped on the proposed changes, multiple sources said consultations have been ongoing among coalition leaders ahead of the retreat.
In a more telling signal, Junet’s memo indicated the meeting will also discuss inter-party/coalition affairs during the retreat.
The memo also promised a detailed agenda to be circulated during the meeting.
“Parliamentary business and inter-party/coalition affairs will form part of the meeting agenda. A detailed programme and agenda will be circulated separately,” Junet said.
“We look forward to your active participation and valuable contribution to the success of the meeting.”
The meeting also comes in the wake of the broad-based alliance's setback in the Ol-Kalou parliamentary by-election, where the coalition-backed candidate lost to the opposition.
Political observers say the outcome has heightened the need for the alliance to close ranks, strengthen coordination and sharpen its political messaging ahead of future electoral contests.
The PG is expected to provide an opportunity for Ruto and Oburu to reaffirm their commitment to the broad-based government and present a united front as Parliament resumes sittings.
The discussions are also expected to assess lessons from the Ol-Kalou contest and explore strategies for strengthening the coalition's political and parliamentary machinery.
The high-level meeting also comes at a time there is incessant angling for President Ruto’s running mate in the coming elections.
ODM, Ford Kenya and UDA have all laid claim to the second most powerful office in the country.
Ford Kenya and a section of Western MPs have been pushing for National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to pair with Ruto.
The ruling UDA is also pushing for the retention of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
The Orange Party is torn between Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, his mining counterpart Hassan Joho and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
ODM boss Oburu Oginga triggered more confusion on Tuesday after coming out publicly to claim the position for himself.
"This time round, ODM will not field a candidate because we will support President William Ruto. All the other positions are negotiable, particularly number two. Don't you think I deserve to be number two? Can I not be number two?" Oburu said at State House on Tuesday during a meeting with village elders.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Besides the legislative agenda, the Naivasha retreat is also expected to discuss the performance of parliamentary committees, with sources indicating that changes to committee leadership could be announced.
