Nairobi — In a rare display of political cooperation, President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga are set to preside over a joint meeting of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmakers on Monday.
The gathering, to be held at the KCB Leadership Centre in Nairobi, will bring together members of Parliament from both parties under the framework of what is being described as a “broad-based government.”
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed confirmed that the meeting will centre on implementing a memorandum of understanding signed by the two leaders last October.
President Ruto said the session will focus on building unity and speeding up development projects across the country.
“On Monday, we are going to have a broad-based government meeting between lawmakers from ODM and Kenya Kwanza to agree on strong mechanisms to unite the country and push it forward,” the president said.
Mr Mohamed noted that the agenda would also include addressing the plight of families affected by recent protests.
“We are going to discuss agendas that will take the country forward, including helping communities affected by recent protests,” he said.
The move follows the formation of a five-member committee, chaired by former ODM Secretary-General Agnes Zani, tasked with implementing the ten-point agenda of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.
Analysts say the meeting is not only about unity, but also a test of the new partnership ahead of looming by-elections in which both UDA and ODM have candidates. How the two sides manage their political interests will be closely watched.
While supporters of the deal argue it could stabilise Kenya’s often fractious politics, critics warn that it risks blurring the lines between government and opposition at a time when accountability is most needed.
For now, all eyes are on Nairobi, where Ruto and Odinga will share the same platform in what may be a defining moment for the country’s political future.
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