ODM rules out presidential, deputy president claims in talks with UDA

ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga made the remarks on Monday during a joint public engagement with President William Ruto at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, where the two leaders presided over the disbursement of Sh220 million in business start-up capital to more than 8,000 youth entrepreneurs.

Addressing supporters from the Nyanza region, Oginga said ODM’s participation in the talks is anchored on advancing the UDA–ODM Prosperity Agenda, rather than competing for the presidency or the deputy presidency.

He emphasized that the party’s priority is securing a fair share of influence within government to support development and economic inclusion.

In remarks that appeared to ease political pressure on Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Oginga stated that ODM would not pursue the deputy president’s seat.

Instead, he said the party would negotiate for expanded representation in Cabinet beyond its current four portfolios, which include Treasury, Energy, Mining and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Oginga maintained that ODM was not seeking to displace any individual from office but was focused on what he described as the party’s “fair share” in the national government, commensurate with its political support base.

President Ruto welcomed the position, pledging his full cooperation in the talks. He said continued dialogue between the two parties was essential to promoting peace, national unity and equity, while moving the country away from divisive politics.

The event also featured remarks from ODM and UDA leaders who voiced support for the emerging broad-based cooperation between the two parties.

They described the engagement as a shift from confrontation to dialogue, with ODM leaders reiterating that the party would not return to street protests.

Both Ruto and Oginga used the occasion to criticize the United Opposition, dismissing it as lacking a coherent agenda or an alternative vision for governance.

They accused opposition leaders of engaging in politics driven by personal ambition and ethnic mobilization rather than policy.

The ODM and UDA leadership said they intend to consolidate the Broad-based Agenda into a strong political coalition ahead of the 2027 general election, positioning it as a platform focused on economic empowerment, inclusion and stable governance.