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NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto and ODM party leader Oburu Oginga are reportedly intensifying efforts to consolidate their political influence in Nairobi as the country edges toward the 2027 General Election.
The two leaders are seeking to merge the grassroots structures of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to mount a coordinated campaign against growing opposition strength in the capital.
The developments emerged after Ruto hosted about 1,500 UDA and ODM leaders, grassroots mobilisers and aspirants at State House, Nairobi, on Friday, November 13. The meeting centred on deepening cooperation between the two formations, aligning campaign activities and agreeing a common strategy for winning Nairobi.
Ruto reportedly challenged the leaders to pool their political networks and mobilise supporters from the grassroots ahead of the polls.
The initiative comes amid mounting pressure from the Linda Mwananchi Movement, associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. Recent opinion polling has reportedly unsettled the broad-based government camp, with the movement recording stronger popularity figures in Nairobi than either UDA or ODM individually.
Still, the proposed alliance faces internal hurdles, particularly over the Nairobi gubernatorial race. Governor Johnson Sakaja, who recently joined ODM, is keen to defend his seat. Makadara MP George Aladwa has also signalled interest, while Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri is positioning himself under UDA.
ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga said the immediate priority was organising the two parties’ grassroots networks, adding that discussions on sharing elective positions would come later.
As 2027 draws closer, the Ruto-Oburu partnership could significantly reshape Nairobi’s political landscape. However, whether it can overcome rivalry within its own ranks remains uncertain.
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