The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Committee has resolved to initiate structured negotiations with other political formations, beginning with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), in a move that signals early realignments ahead of the next general election.
In a statement after a committee meeting held in Kilifi County on January 12, 2026, the party said it had agreed to explore pre-election political alliances as part of its broader strategy.
“The Committee meeting expressed the intention to initiate structured negotiations with different political formations, beginning with United Democratic Alliance,” the statement read.
The committee further said it had formally mandated the ODM Party Leader, Oburu Oginga, to commence the process of engagement with UDA and other potential partners.
According to the statement, the talks are expected to follow an organised framework and will be guided by the party’s internal structures.
“To this end, we have mandated the Party Leader to commence this process,” the committee said.
ODM noted that the decision to open negotiations would be accompanied by extensive internal consultations to ensure party members are involved and informed throughout the process.
The committee said consultations with party members would run concurrently with the talks.
“Concurrently, consultations with Party members will proceed, culminating in the National Delegates Convention,” the statement said.
The party indicated that the National Delegates Convention will play a key role in considering the outcome of the consultations and negotiations, underscoring the importance of party organs in making final decisions on alliances.
While the statement did not provide timelines or detail the scope of the proposed negotiations, the resolution marks one of the clearest indications yet of ODM’s intention to formally engage rival political formations well ahead of the election cycle.
The meeting in Kilifi County brought together members of the ODM Central Committee, the party’s top decision-making organ between National Delegates Conventions.
The committee is responsible for setting strategic direction and overseeing key political decisions.
The announcement comes amid ongoing national political realignments as parties position themselves for future contests.
By prioritising talks with UDA, ODM has signalled a willingness to explore cooperation with parties across the political divide, even as it maintains that the process will be guided by consultation and party democracy.
