Kenya: Oburu Dismisses Calls for Written Pre-2027 Deal With Uda By 'Odm Outsiders'

What the report says

ODM leader Oburu Oginga has pushed back against pressure from people he says are outside the party over how it should handle talks with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA). In remarks reported from Nairobi, Oburu said ODM’s negotiating position should be set by its own structures and leaders, not by outsiders, and he stressed that the party’s main condition remains full delivery of the 10-point agenda linked to the National Dialogue Committee framework.

According to Capital FM’s report carried by AllAfrica, Oburu’s comments came as debate intensifies within ODM over whether the party should seek a written agreement with UDA before backing Ruto’s bid for re-election in 2027. Some leaders want formal guarantees on power-sharing and policy commitments, while others argue that written deals do not always hold and that UDA’s actions in government already show enough goodwill.

The report says the disagreement has drawn in several senior ODM figures, including supporters of a more formal pact and those urging caution. Among the issues discussed are possible government positions, including the deputy president role and Cabinet sharing. The party has also been working through a joint technical process with UDA.

The 10-point agenda was said to have been agreed by Ruto and the late Raila Odinga in March 2025 and covers issues such as electoral reform, devolution, corruption, the cost of living and youth employment. Its implementation has become central to ODM’s broader political engagement and to questions about how the party will position itself ahead of 2027.