Gen Z activist Kasmuel McOure has come out to state that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will not enter into coalition talks with the United Opposition.

While speaking during a party press briefing at its headquarters on Friday, April 8, 2026, the outspoken activist, who also doubles as the ODM Youth League member, accused the United Opposition of spreading tribalism.

He further stated that if the United Opposition are interested in coalition talks with them, they should be the ones looking for ODM, and not the other way around.

“We shall not have negotiations with the political animal that is calling itself the United Opposition; if it is so, they should be the ones negotiating with us, not the other way round,” he said.

McOure also stated that the ODM party is deep within the broad-based government and will not move an inch, adding that it will support President William Ruto’s re-election.

This comes at a time when the ODM party are preparing for upcoming pre-coalition talks with their broad-based counterparts, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

The talks were recently halted as the party focuses on strengthening itself through countrywide visits as part of its preparations. Some leaders within the Oburu Odinga-led party feel that ODM is approaching the coalition talks from a weak position.

Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, who was recently elected as the party’s deputy organising secretary, called for the abolition of the talks and instead urged the party to focus on strengthening itself so that it can approach negotiations from a stronger position.

She also called for the disbandment of the Linda Mwananchi and Linda Ground factions and for them to be merged into one unified structure.

The structured talks with their UDA counterparts have caused uproar among a section of members within the party, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, forcing them to carve their own path.

Orengo’s worries

Siaya Governor James Orengo, who is also opposed to the negotiations between UDA and ODM, recalled past elections where ODM used to be sought after and not the one pleading with other parties to enter into a pact.

He said the party used to enter coalitions from a position of strength, unlike the current situation. He further argued that the upcoming coalition talks risk reducing ODM into a village party and a Luo Nyanza outfit, stripping it of its national outlook.

Eddy Oketch’s take

Migori Senator Eddy Oketch also months ago rejected any talks with the United Opposition, particularly the Rigathi Gachagua-led Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), saying that if it happens, he will not agree with his party leader.

During the joint parliamentary group meeting between UDA and ODM members held at State House in February, both teams were supposed to select four members each, with executive directors appointed among themselves to guide the coalition talks.