Orange Democratic Movement leader Oburu Oginga has moved to calm growing anxiety within his party, saying discussions with United Democratic Alliance have not started and reports of a breakdown in talks are misplaced.
Speaking in Kisumu after meeting church leaders from Nyanza, Oburu said the agenda for any future engagement is still being prepared by a technical team and will be made public later. He dismissed claims circulating in public that outline what will be discussed, terming them speculation.
“Issues being discussed in public are just people thinking aloud. But the agenda is being prepared by our technical team. They are drafting a detailed agenda which will be made public soon—it will not remain a secret,” he said.
His remarks come at a time when relations between ODM and UDA have grown strained ahead of anticipated negotiations on a possible 2027 election partnership. At the centre of the dispute is ODM’s push for zoning, where UDA would avoid fielding candidates in areas considered ODM strongholds.
Oburu clarified that zoning is only one of several items the party intends to table once talks officially begin, maintaining that no formal process has started.
“We have not started negotiations as yet. And this thing called zoning is just one of the tools for achieving what we want,” he said.
The ODM leader, who took over the party after the death of Raila Odinga in October last year, insisted the party will not give up elective positions in regions where it enjoys strong support.
“We are going to compete, and we are going to compete very fiercely. What we are saying is that we don’t want to compete with people with whom we are going into partnership,” he added.
Within ODM, zoning has been described as a key condition for any deal with UDA. Party chairperson Gladys Wanga has already termed the proposal non-negotiable in party strongholds.
However, UDA has pushed back, with Secretary-General Hassan Omar rejecting the idea and insisting the party has a right to field candidates across the country without restrictions.
The disagreement has stirred unease within ODM ranks, with some leaders warning that continued public attacks from UDA officials could derail cooperation. During a recent Central Committee meeting, party officials accused some UDA figures of making remarks that have unsettled members, with calls emerging to reconsider the existing Memorandum of Understanding if the situation persists.
At the grassroots level, mistrust has also been fuelled by UDA’s ongoing recruitment drives, which some ODM leaders fear could weaken the party’s support base. There are concerns that the broader government arrangement between the two sides may be used to influence ODM members and reduce its national reach.
Despite the tensions, Oburu expressed confidence that the differences can be resolved once structured negotiations begin, noting that current exchanges remain informal.
While the leadership in both camps appears open to working together ahead of the 2027 General Election, divisions remain evident as both sides hold firm positions on key issues such as zoning and political space.