President William Ruto and ODM leader Oburu Oginga at the UDA-ODM Joint Parliamentary Group meeting at KICC in Nairobi.
President William Ruto and ODM party leader Oburu Oginga will lead governors, deputy governors and MPs in a three-day retreat in Naivasha starting Sunday, as the broad-based government partners seek to strengthen their working relationship and prepare for the 2027 General Election.
The meeting, which brings together leaders from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and other Kenya Kwanza affiliates, is expected to focus on the parties’ working arrangement, implementation of the 10-point agenda and preparations for the next elections.
Interviews with MPs, governors and State House officials indicate that the retreat will also examine grassroots mobilisation, political realignments and messaging on the administration’s record ahead of the 2027 contest. ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga said the meeting would provide a status update on the ODM-UDA partnership and allow leaders to review progress on issues arising from the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco).
President William Ruto and ODM leader Oburu Odinga at the United Democratic Alliance (UDA)-Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Joint Parliamentary Group meeting at the Kenya International Convention Centre, Nairobi.
“We will be looking at the progress made on bills that emanated from Nadco. Status of issues around compensation of victims of police brutality, among others. We will also look at the status of our partnership (UDA and ODM),” said Governor Wanga.
The 10-point agenda formed part of the political understanding between Dr Ruto and the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Among the proposals arising from Nadco were the creation of the offices of Official Leader of Opposition and Prime Minister.
Homa Bay Governor ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga addresses party supporters during a political rally at Kirembe Grounds, Kisumu on May 31, 2026.
The retreat comes amid changes in political loyalties, particularly in Mt Kenya, which was a major source of support for Dr Ruto in the 2022 presidential election.
UDA has in recent months faced defections involving some politicians who were key allies and strategists during the 2022 campaign.
They include Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata, Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, among others. The 10 Mt Kenya counties and seven North Rift counties collectively gave Dr Ruto 4.5 million votes, accounting for 63 per cent of his total votes in the 2022 election. Laikipia, Tharaka-Nithi, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Embu, Meru and Nakuru alone gave Dr Ruto nearly three million votes.
The changes in the Mt Kenya political landscape have increased attention on how the administration intends to retain support in the region while expanding its reach elsewhere.
The broad-based team is also watching the growing influence of Linda Mwananchi, a political movement associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. Some leaders are concerned that the movement could affect ODM’s influence in some of its traditional areas ahead of 2027.
When Dr Oginga declared ODM’s support for Dr Ruto’s re-election, the party had planned to work with UDA as a unit.
Dr Ruto is also expected to use the retreat to rally leaders behind his new 2060 vision, which is scheduled for formal launch on August 12, a day after the retreat.
The President is advocating a new long-term development plan to succeed Vision 2030, which was launched in 2008 by President Mwai Kibaki. Vision 2030 sought to transform Kenya into a newly industrialised, middle-income country.
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.
Government-aligned politicians are also expected to review the administration’s record as the two parties seek to strengthen their cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The selection of Dr Ruto’s running mate could also feature in discussions, amid differences among leaders allied to UDA and ODM over who should occupy the position.
ODM and UDA have in recent months been engaged in competing political activities under the broad-based arrangement, with the question of the 2027 running mate emerging as one of the issues attracting attention.
Some ODM leaders have publicly backed Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya as their preferred choice. The position has brought ODM leaders into disagreement with allies of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. The outcome of the recent election in Ol Kalou has also featured in political discussions involving allies of Prof Kindiki.
Mombasa Governor and ODM co-deputy party leader Abdullswamad Nassir told Nation that the retreat would primarily focus on bonding and building consensus.
He said questions around the running mate and political zoning were unlikely to be discussed by the full meeting because of the number of participants. Instead, he said, the two matters would be handled by a technical committee to be formed by the two parties as they work towards a pre-election coalition. “We want to bond. Some of our people have become rivals at the grassroots,” said Mr Nassir. “We also want to share the vision of a broad-based government going into the 2027 polls.”
Political zoning has emerged as another contentious issue between ODM and UDA. ODM has pushed for zoning in its traditional bases, while UDA wants parties to be free to field candidates in every electoral seat except the presidency.
President William Ruto, ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga and members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Steering Committee during a joint consultative meeting at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed said the meeting would provide a roadmap towards the 2027 election.
“There will be difficult decisions that will determine the way forward. The leadership will give a roadmap ahead of 2027,” said Mr Mohammed.
An invitation sent to MPs indicates that the meeting will take place at Lake Naivasha Resort. Leaders are expected to check in on Sunday and leave on Tuesday, although the parliamentary invitation states that the formal meeting is scheduled for August 10 and 11.
Mr Mohammed listed parliamentary business and coalition affairs among the main agenda items. UDA and ODM separately invited their governors and deputies for the engagement.
“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 August 10 and 11, 2026,” reads the letter by Mr Mohammed dated August 4, 2026.
“Parliamentary business and inter-party/coalition affairs will form part of the meeting agenda. A detailed programme and agenda will be circulated separately,” added the letter, which was copied to Dr Oginga and National Assembly Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo.
A similar invitation was sent by National Assembly Majority Leader Sylvanus Osoro to Kenya Kwanza MPs.
The retreat comes as Dr Ruto holds meetings with different groups at State House as he seeks to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 election.
The emergence of Linda Mwananchi, associated with Senator Sifuna, has added another dimension to the political realignments taking shape ahead of the poll. The movement has expanded its activities beyond its initial bases, attracting attention from politicians across the country.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa said the meeting would provide a platform for bonding and developing a 2027 campaign strategy.
He said the leaders would map out the country, analyse political realignments and discuss issues being raised by constituents about the administration.
“The meeting is about the 2027 strategy and what kind of messaging we need as the government. Members are expected to share some of the issues their constituents are raising about this administration so that they can be handled,” Mr Barasa said.
He, however, said discussions on Dr Ruto’s running mate would be premature.
Tharaka Nithi Senator Mwenda Gataya played down the political significance of the meeting, saying it was intended mainly to strengthen governance and coordination of government operations.
“I don’t think the meeting will be overly focused on politics. We are still working as a government, and when the time comes, we shall get into politics,” said Mr Gataya.
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