Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Oburu Odinga has answered critics who have at times claimed the party is slow in terms of finalising coalition talks with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The two parties entered into a working agreement that gave birth to the broad-based government, and expectations that talks to form a coalition going into the 2027 elections should have been concluded already.
Speaking on Saturday, July 4, 2026, during the ODM Women Empowerment Programme in Nyando, Kisumu County, Oburu said he and ODM are not slow, but by taking time, it is a calculated strategy.
“Why is Oburu still just keeping quiet? Why is he not starting negotiations with the Ruto government? Why is it too slow?” Oburu stated.
“I’m not too slow. The election is next year, in August next year. We still have more than one year to go.”
Coalition arrangement
Oburu argued that revealing their coalition arrangement early will give their opponents a chance to counter them.
“And if we try to make a coalition arrangement too early, we are going to give our opponents some clue of what we want to do, and they can shoot it from far very early,” the Siaya County senator said.
“We are not going to make it, but in any case, we are going to make it before the end of the year. We are going to make sure before the end of the year we are through.”
The ODM-UDA agreement to work together created a rift in the orange party, and rebel members formed the Linda Mwananchi camp that has largely aligned with the opposition unit.
