Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has rejected reports claiming she is opposed to the Orange Democratic Movement entering coalition talks ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying her remarks were distorted and wrongly framed.
Odinga clarified that she supports ODM engaging with other parties but insisted that the movement must retain its internal unity and organisational strength.
Speaking in Bondo where Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino led a delegation to condole with the family of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, she said her comments were always rooted in concerns about cohesion within the party.
“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 pointed to the 2007 elections, arguing that despite what she described as a frustrated presidential victory, ODM’s numerical strength enabled the party to secure key leadership positions in Parliament, including the Speaker’s seat. Such gains, she said, were only possible because ODM entered the contest as a formidable political force.
“You cannot go to war without a weapon. And the stronger the weapon, the better,” she said.
Reports circulating this week claimed she had hinted that ODM might align with President William Ruto until 2027. She dismissed the claims as misleading and insisted that no such idea is under consideration.
ODM is currently working with the United Democratic Alliance under a broad-based cooperation agreement signed in March. Party officials have consistently stated that the arrangement does not amount to a coalition.
Secretary General Edwin Sifuna recently affirmed that ODM will field its own candidates in upcoming mini polls, arguing that the agreement with UDA does not bind the parties to joint nominations.
Odinga reiterated this position, saying ODM remains intact and will engage with the broad-based government until 2027, after which the party will determine its direction.
