ODM opens applications for all elective seats ahead of 2027 polls

In a notice issued by the party’s National Elections Coordinating Committee, ODM said interested candidates can apply for positions including President, Governor, Senator, Woman Representative, Member of the National Assembly and Member of County Assembly.

NECC chairperson Emily Awita said the exercise is being conducted in line with the party constitution and nomination rules.

“Pursuant to Article 6(1) of the ODM Constitution, as read together with Rule 7(1) and Part VIII of the Party Elections and Nomination Rules, the National Elections Coordinating Committee hereby invites applications from interested members seeking party tickets for elective positions,” Awita announced.

The applicants are required to submit their applications through the party’s online portal by June 30, 2026.

The party further urged aspirants to remain engaged with the NECC throughout the process to ensure transparency and credibility in the nominations.

The announcement comes at a politically sensitive moment as ODM is expected to begin pre-election coalition discussions with President William Ruto’s UDA.

ODM has widely been viewed as likely to support President Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027 under the broad-based political arrangement that emerged after the party entered into cooperation talks with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

However, the decision to invite applications for all seats, including the presidency, could reignite debate within the party over whether ODM should field its presidential candidate or back President Ruto.

A breakaway ODM faction operating under the banner Linda Mwananchi has already demanded that the party abandons any plans to support Ruto and instead front its own presidential candidate.

In January, Oburu Oginga declared he would automatically become ODM’s presidential flagbearer should the party decide to contest the presidency independently.

Oburu said ODM would remain in the broad-based arrangement with the Kenya Kwanza government until 2027, in line with an agreement reached by his brother Raila Odinga.

Raila has been ODM’s presidential candidate in every General Election since the disputed 2007 polls.

Speaking earlier this year, Oburu said 2026 would be decisive for the party as it charts its political direction ahead of the next election.

“2026 is a crucial year for our party because things must be worked out before 2027. Before the end of 2026, we shall have clearly known and made all necessary arrangements going into 2027,” he said.

He added that ODM would determine before the end of the year whether it would field its own presidential candidate or join a coalition with other political parties.

“Before the end of the year, our party will have known whether we are going it alone or entering into a coalition with other parties, and we shall by then know whom we are going with,” he said.

According to Oburu, the ODM constitution designates the party leader as the automatic presidential candidate if the party opts to contest the election independently.

“If we are going it alone, I want to make it clear that our constitution already has the presidential candidate for our party, and it is the party leader,” he said.

He warned that any other individuals preparing to seek ODM’s presidential ticket were “misplaced” and should instead look for another political party if they wished to run for the presidency.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

ODM has formally launched its 2027 election preparations by inviting applications for all elective seats, including the presidency, signalling a possible shift in its political strategy ahead of coalition talks with President William Ruto’s UDA. The move has reignited internal debate over whether the party should field its own presidential candidate or back Ruto’s re-election bid. Oburu Oginga insists ODM’s constitution automatically grants the party leader the presidential ticket if it opts to contest independently.