Ruth Odinga: ODM is not opposed to entering into coalition

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga./HANDOUT

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has dismissed reports suggesting she is opposed to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) entering a coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Odinga said her remarks were misinterpreted and taken out of context.

She clarified that she fully supports ODM working with other political parties, provided the party itself remains strong, united and well-grounded.

Speaking when Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino led a delegation to Kango ka Jaramogi to condole with the family following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, she emphasised that her concerns have always centered on internal cohesion.

“I am not against a coalition between ODM and other parties. What I keep saying is that we must have one strong ODM. We have been in the trenches and we know what unity can do,” she said.

She recalled that in the disputed 2007 elections, ODM’s presidential victory was frustrated, yet the party’s numerical strength enabled it to secure powerful positions in Parliament, including the Speaker’s seat.

She argued that this was possible because ODM went into the contest as a solid political force.

“You cannot go to war without a weapon. And the stronger the weapon, the better,” Odinga said, adding that strengthening ODM remains her priority.

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga with Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino in Bondo/HANDOUT

Recent media reports had claimed that the Kisumu Woman Rep opposed coalition-building and had vowed that ODM would run solo in 2027.

Some reports further suggested she had hinted at ODM aligning with President William Ruto until the next election before charting its own path.

Odinga dismissed the claims, stating that such interpretations were misleading.

On whether ODM plans to enter a pre-election deal with Ruto, she stated that the idea is not on the table. She insisted that the party’s focus remains consolidating its support base and rebuilding its grassroots networks.

ODM is currently part of the broad-based arrangement with Ruto’s UDA following a memorandum of understanding signed in March. However, senior party officials have repeatedly stressed that the arrangement is not a coalition agreement.

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna recently affirmed that the party will participate in upcoming mini-polls as an independent entity. He said there is no coalition pact that binds ODM to field joint candidates with UDA.

“The pact we made with UDA did not constitute a coalition agreement. Broad-based is not a party, and therefore, it has no candidates,” Sifuna said.

Odinga echoed the same sentiment, saying ODM remains intact and will support the broad-based government until 2027, after which the party will decide its course.

“We are not striking another agreement. We are strengthening ODM,” she said.