Homa Bay Governor Gladys Nyasuna Wanga.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has revealed some of the specific policy issues it wants included in President William Ruto’s 2027 manifesto as part of their pre-coalition agreement.
The outfit, under the leadership of Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, also wants a technical team jointly formed by ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to map out the country and establish electoral areas that would require zoning or joint tickets.
Zoning, which involves coalition partners agreeing not to field candidates against each other in select regions, has emerged as one of the contested issues in the planned coalition talks between UDA and ODM.
UDA has publicly opposed zoning, while ODM has listed it as one of its irreducible minimums for backing Dr Ruto’s re-election.
ODM is advocating inclusion of issues that have been at the heart of its former leader Raila Odinga’s political life. Raila was associated with the struggle for multiparty democracy, constitutional reform, the fight for human rights, and devolution of power and resources.
ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga, who is the Homa Bay governor, said they are pushing for inclusivity in public affairs, strengthening of devolution and equitable sharing of national wealth. The party further wants the manifesto to capture social security for the poor and vulnerable, war on corruption, access to quality education and affordable and quality healthcare.
ODM in its 2022 manifesto had promised a Sh6,000 stipend for the poor. Raila had also promised free education from kindergarten to university. “Raila believed in decent and affordable housing as a right, particularly for the poor. That is why he championed slum upgrading under the grand coalition government,” Ms Wanga said.
“We continue pushing for that, which is why we support the President's Affordable Housing plan. We will ensure access to and distribution of these houses is fair, transparent, and credible, in line with the wishes of Raila.”
Dr Ruto and Dr Oginga picked a 10-member technical team during the recent three-day retreat by broad-based government leaders to draft a joint manifesto.
ODM nominated Isaac Wanuge, Mariam Abdulai, Leonida Kerubo Omosa, Eng Kari Orege and Prof Bernard Muok, while Kenya Kwanza picked Emmanuel Nzai, Dr Daniel Mwai, Bramwell Simiyu, Mohammed Hassan and Dr Cecilia Ngetich. The two leaders are expected to establish an additional 10-member team for coalition talks.
President William Ruto and ODM party leader Oburu Odinga during a Sunday service at Nkarusha Seventh Day Adventist Church, Kajiado County on June 14, 2026.
Excerpts from the interview:
How prepared are you for the 2027 General Election?
ODM is the most experienced party on the political landscape when it comes to elections. The party has participated in every election since it won the 2005 referendum. Its peers like PNU are on their deathbed. In between there have been parties like TNA and Jubilee, all dead or in the last stages to their life. But ODM soldiers on. So, ODM is ready, possibly better than other parties.
How does the party intend to preserve the legacy of Raila in coalition with UDA?
ODM is already preserving Raila's legacy by being in a working relationship with UDA. Raila started this, but, more importantly, he believed in making compromises and building coalitions for the sake of the nation. Raila believed that when it came to advancing the cause of the nation, no price was too high to pay. Kenyans must remember that Raila made a compromise with President Daniel Moi because he believed we needed to carry Moi aboard to start the journey to a new constitution.
The Constitution would not have been realised had Raila refused to make peace with Mr Mwai Kibaki. The journey to a new Kenya would not have been on the table if Raila had not made a compromise with Dr Ruto. So we are determined to make this coalition work, as part of our effort to sustain Raila's legacy.
We are determined to ensure the things Raila held dear—protection of devolution; social security for Kenyans, especially orphans, the poor, widows, and the youth; and access to healthcare and other basic necessities—are adhered to.
What policies and governance issues would ODM demand their implementation should you form the next government with Dr Ruto?
What the party has always stood for: inclusivity in public affairs, strengthening of devolution, equitable sharing of national wealth, respect for human rights, fighting corruption, social security for the poor and vulnerable, upward economic mobility for Kenyans, expansion of infrastructure, access to affordable and quality healthcare, and access to quality education, among others.
President William Ruto, his Deputy Kithure Kindiki, ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga, Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi and other political leaders allied to broad-based government at the Lake Naivasha Resort in Naivasha, Nakuru County on August 10, 2026 during a retreat.
What would be your irreducible minimums?
Raila taught us not to fear negotiating and never to negotiate in fear. Negotiations fail before they begin when parties go with predetermined positions. We will be going into negotiations not as adversaries but as existing partners.
The negotiations ODM is preparing for are not similar to what the party went into after the 2007 election. In 2007, PNU and ODM were adversaries. In 2027, ODM and UDA are existing partners. We will go into this with open minds and unclenched fists, but ensure ODM gets a fair deal.
How would you implement without causing acrimony?
Teams have been set up to handle this matter, alongside others regarding the making of the coalition. We want to leave that to the relevant body to get back to us. We do not want to pre-empt their work.
Do you feel weakened by the exit of Linda Mwananchi leaders?
What counts is whether you are able to consolidate after internal upheavals, and we are happy to report that we have been able to consolidate. ODM has remained one. The others are rebel factions that have made it clear that they want nothing to do with ODM. We are happy that we have ended up with one ODM.
Does the party regret its decision to kick out Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as its secretary-general?
The party, just like members-only organisations, has laws and rules to be adhered to. Once the party is convinced that certain members or officials have gone against the rules and code of regulations, it will take action against those members or officials. If the Catholic Church focused on mourning members who left to form the protestant churches, Catholicism would have suffered. Even protestants have had to endure departures. You do not grow by focusing on reminiscing about the past.
Would Raila have done the same under similar circumstances?
Nobody can tell with precision what Raila would have done. Maybe the situation would not have arisen if Raila was there. But we also know ODM changed leaders while Raila was alive and he let it be. There is a broad agreement that we need to keep Raila's people in government. It is not about Sifuna. It is about the people.
How does the party plan to retain its traditional bases in the face of the falling-out with Linda Mwananchi team?
We are treating Linda Mwananchi as an opponent. We will confront it the way we have confronted other parties before to retain our bases.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
