The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has formally agreed to work with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in what it calls a move toward national unity and political stability. The party’s Central Committee met Tuesday under the leadership of ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga and backed full cooperation with the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration. In a statement, the committee confirmed ODM’s commitment to supporting a broad-based government.
“The Central Committee of the Orange Democratic Movement met today, under the leadership of Party Leader Raila Odinga, to review the state of the nation and the implementation of the MOU with UDA,” the party said in a statement released after the closed-door session.
The committee emphasized that ODM supports Raila’s decision to engage President Ruto’s administration, saying the move is aimed at stabilizing the country and addressing national challenges through constitutional channels.
“That the party supports the position of Party Leader Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration to stabilize the country and create an enabling environment for Kenyans to address their concerns through democratic and constitutional means,” the statement read.
The agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ODM and UDA that outlines a 10-point agenda. The agenda includes proposals to promote inclusivity, curb corruption, address youth unemployment, and implement key governance reforms.
ODM now plans to form a technical team to work with its UDA counterparts to oversee the rollout of the MOU. The committee noted that the absence of a joint technical body has delayed progress in executing the deal.
“In order to expedite implementation, ODM will constitute a technical team to work with UDA counterparts,” the committee said. “This political infrastructure is necessary to drive the agreement forward.”
The 10-point agenda aligns with recommendations from the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report. The report, produced after bipartisan talks, proposes key constitutional reforms including the establishment of an Office of the Official Opposition Leader and the return of a Prime Minister’s post.
ODM leaders stressed the need to prioritize the report’s full implementation, as well as safeguard constitutional rights like peaceful protest.
“Of great concern is the full implementation of the NADCO report, protection of youth livelihoods, the right to peaceful assembly, adherence to the rule of law, and tackling corruption and wastage of public resources,” the committee added.
The cooperation between ODM and UDA marks a major shift in Kenya’s political landscape. The two sides have been long-time rivals, with Raila Odinga contesting the 2022 presidential election results. Their new collaboration signals an effort to move beyond past disputes and build a more inclusive political framework.
The announcement comes amid public calls for unity and a renewed focus on governance. Both parties are expected to begin working on implementing the agenda through joint legislation and policy frameworks in the coming weeks.
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