ODM’s Mombasa retreat set conditions for talks with UDM, including release of Sh12 billion and demands for the deputy presidential slot.
ODM’s coalition talks are being reshaped before they even begin, with the party issuing clear conditions that could define the 2027 bargaining space.
The demands were front and center during an ODM retreat in Mombasa, where concerns about waning political influence and delayed government funding for parties dominated the discussions.. Central to the party’s position is the expectation that the government first releases Sh12 billion owed to political parties before ODM engages in any negotiations linked to 2027.
In this context, ODM’s stance signals that the party is trying to enter coalition planning from a position of financial and political leverage, rather than simply responding to offers from other groupings.
ODM officials associated with the Oburu Odinga-led Linda Gound faction made it clear that they would not accept less than the deputy presidential slot in any proposed arrangement with UDA.. Party members also warned ODM leadership to avoid internal wrangles, arguing that visible divisions could weaken the party’s public standing and fuel narratives that it is aligned with only one community.
Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati delivered the retreat’s key message on unity and discipline, urging ODM leaders to keep their internal cohesion intact ahead of election season.. The retreat also highlighted the need for stronger mobilisation in ODM strongholds, amid concern over low voter registration.
This matters because coalition politics often reward parties that can demonstrate both organisational unity and election readiness, especially when voter registration and internal turnout planning are uncertain.
The retreat brought together senior party figures including Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Joho, Wycliffe Oparanya, and John Mbadi, alongside more than 90 MPs, 13 governors, and members of the National Executive Council.. Delegates also expressed frustration over delays in disbursing political parties’ funds, with calls for the money to be released before coalition talks move forward.
On the process for talks with President William Ruto’s UDM, ODM leaders emphasised that any engagement should be structured and consultative, rather than rushed through premature endorsements.. They also cautioned against multiple communication channels within the party, insisting that official messaging should operate through one command structure.
For ODM, these procedural demands are not just internal housekeeping. They are meant to prevent competing signals from undermining negotiations and to reduce the risk of post-election disputes when coalition choices harden into commitments.
While Oburu Oginga was notably absent from the three-day retreat focused on strategy, ODM acting Secretary-General Catherine Omanyo sought to settle claims of confusion in leadership.. Governor Abdulahi Ahmed and Simba Arati urged reconciliation efforts to bring back dissenting members, and Party Chairperson Gladys Wanga acknowledged that the upcoming general election would be more competitive, particularly for leaders who previously relied on Raila Odinga’s influence.. Wanga said ODM would need to campaign more independently, even as it continues building on the legacy left after Raila’s death.. The retreat ended with assurances from party trustee Amos Wako that ODM’s structures remain intact ahead of 2027.