The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has reaffirmed its commitment to early preparations for the 2027 General Election, including structured coalition-building efforts starting with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), following a key Central Committee meeting held in Kilifi County on January 12, 2026.
In a statement released after the session, the committee reviewed the party’s political, organizational, and strategic standing, expressing satisfaction with recent milestones while directing immediate action on critical fronts.
The meeting highlighted ODM’s successful marking of its 20th anniversary celebrations, which concluded in late 2025 with broad national participation, particularly in Mombasa.
The committee praised the events for reaffirming the party’s deep roots in the fight for democracy, social justice, and inclusive governance, underscoring its enduring relevance and resilience.
On electoral performance, the Central Committee celebrated ODM’s clean sweep in the November 2025 by-elections, where the party fielded candidates in three parliamentary constituencies Kasipul, Ugunja, and Magarini and secured victories in all.
These wins were seen as a strong vote of confidence from voters in ODM’s strongholds, particularly in Nyanza and Coastal regions.
With the 2027 General Election now just over a year away, the committee resolved that preparations must begin without delay.
It directed the party to focus on policy development, organizational strengthening, coalition building, and candidate readiness, with the explicit goal of not only contesting but forming the next government.
A key agenda item was the ongoing review of the 10-Point Agenda, particularly the unresolved issue of compensation for victims of public protests.
Noting a recent court ruling declaring the proposed Panel of Experts unlawful, the committee resolved to channel any compensation through constitutionally recognized institutions, specifically the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), to ensure legality and transparency.
The committee also signaled a proactive approach to pre-election alliances, expressing intent to initiate structured negotiations with various political formations, beginning with UDA the ruling party under President William Ruto.
The Party Leader, Oburu Oginga, was mandated to lead this process. Parallel consultations with party members will continue, leading to a National Delegates Convention for final endorsement.
Finally, the meeting commended ODM’s compliance record, noting that the Auditor General had praised the party’s clean financial books for the 20th consecutive year.
It also highlighted that ODM remains one of the few parties fully compliant with the Political Parties Act, as confirmed by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
The Central Committee mandated relevant party organs to implement these resolutions promptly and report progress to leadership structures.
The resolutions come amid ongoing internal discussions within ODM about its future direction, including the evolving broad-based arrangement with the government and preparations for 2027.
The emphasis on coalition talks with UDA aligns with recent public statements from party leader Oburu Oginga, who has described 2026 as a pivotal year for negotiations to position ODM strongly for power.
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