President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is prepared to face the next general election without its coalition partner, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), if ongoing disputes over zoning and the fate of Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo persist.
Multiple sources within State House indicate that the President has grown increasingly frustrated with what insiders describe as “constant threats” from ODM, signaling a possible collapse of the broad-based government formed after the 2024 political realignments.
According to the sources, President Ruto has made it clear that UDA will not bow to ODM’s demands to sack Dr. Omollo or to enforce zoning arrangements that would limit UDA’s political reach in certain regions. “The President is ready to go to the polls without ODM if they continue with ultimatums,” one senior official said.
The wedge comes amid growing discontent within ODM, whose leaders accuse UDA of betrayal and disrespect. ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has called for mutual respect and genuine engagement between the two parties, warning that ODM will not allow its influence to be eroded.
“This is our party, what our party leader, the late Raila Odinga, left us. It is all we have. We will defend and protect our party. Defending our party comes number one before anything else. So we will defend our party, our people, and we will defend our areas. We will make sure that our parliamentary strength is not reduced by even an inch,” said Wanga over the weekend.
Wanga’s remarks have exposed the growing unease within ODM ranks, with many members feeling sidelined in government appointments and decision-making by UDA. ODM joined the government in 2024 following youth-led protests and a push for national unity championed by the late Raila Odinga.
ODM Minority Whip Junet Mohamed echoed Wanga’s sentiments, warning President Ruto to respect ODM’s political turf if he expects continued cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Suna East MP also demanded the immediate release of over KSh 12 billion owed to ODM in unremitted political party funding, a matter that has further strained relations between the two sides.
“The President must stay out of ODM areas if he wants our support. We cannot continue to be shortchanged while our party is being weakened,” Junet said.
The insistence by ODM that zoning be entrenched as a key pillar of any pre-election pact has placed President Ruto in a difficult position.
However, insiders maintain that UDA will not concede to ODM’s demands, setting the stage for a potential political showdown that could reshape Kenya’s coalition politics ahead of 2027.
