ODM Leadership Meets in Kilifi to Discuss 2027 Coalition with UDA Amid Internal Rifts
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee convened a crucial meeting on Thursday in Vipingo, Kilifi County, under the chairmanship of Dr. Oburu Oginga. The gathering, which has drawn significant political attention, is primarily focused on negotiating potential coalition arrangements with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sources within the party indicate that the talks are centered on forging a strategic partnership, despite historical rivalries between the two major political blocs. A key point of discussion is the persistent challenge of achieving unity within ODM itself—a matter described as “elusive” in internal communications.
However, the meeting has not been without controversy. Notable absences include Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi, both of whom did not offer apologies for skipping the session. A party insider, commenting anonymously, criticized the no-shows as “bure kabisa” (completely pointless), highlighting emerging tensions within the party’s top brass.
The location of the meeting at Vipingo, a coastal resort area, underscores the high-stakes nature of the deliberations as ODM positions itself for the next electoral cycle. Political analysts suggest that a coalition with UDA could reshape Kenya’s political landscape, though it risks alienating a segment of ODM’s traditional base.
