The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has accused the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of orchestrating what it terms a hostile takeover of ODM’s grassroots structures in parts of Western Kenya.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, January 8, 2026, ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi said the alleged activities are concentrated in Vihiga and Kakamega counties.

Osotsi claimed that several ODM legislators and party officials in the two counties have recently participated in UDA electoral and campaign strategy meetings. He cited a meeting held on January 6, 2026, at a hotel in Kakamega town, where legislators elected on the ODM ticket allegedly attended a forum convened by senior UDA officials.

“Over the past few days, a section of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislators and officials in Vihiga and Kakamega Counties have been incorporated into the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) electoral and campaign strategy meetings,” read the ODM statement in part.

“One such engagement took place on Tuesday, 6th January 2026, at Golf Hotel in Kakamega, where several legislators elected on ODM participated in a meeting convened by top UDA officials. Our members are being approached to facilitate and participate in the upcoming UDA grassroots elections under the false pretext that UDA and ODM are in a political cooperation agreement.”

Cited co-option of ODM officials

According to the statement, ODM members are being approached to take part in upcoming UDA grassroots elections under what the party describes as false claims of a political cooperation agreement between ODM and UDA.

Osotsi further cited that UDA has gone as far as forming a regional presidential caucus composed of ODM members, actions he said violate both the Political Parties Act and the ODM constitution.

He noted that similar efforts have been reported in other parts of Western Kenya, with claims that UDA has attempted, and in some cases succeeded, in luring ODM Members of Parliament, Members of County Assembly, and county officials into UDA programmes.

Osotsi described these actions as predatory and accused UDA of acting in bad faith at a time when ODM is still reorganising following the death of its former party leader, Raila Odinga.

No Formal Pact Between ODM and UDA

The ODM deputy leader maintained that there is no legally binding cooperation agreement between the two parties at either national or grassroots level.

He clarified that the only existing framework between ODM and UDA is the 10-point reform agenda agreed upon following the mid-2024 Gen Z-led protests that resulted in the formation of the broad-based government.

“The 10-point reform agenda, like the Broad-Based Government, is a work in progress meant to expire in 2027 and does not amount to a formal cooperation agreement or pact between ODM and UDA political parties.”

“Incorporating our members into UDA programmes in the manner described above is therefore a hostile attempt by UDA to illegally leverage ODM’s strong grassroots structures, developed over two decades, to ‘soften the ground’ for the eventual eviction of “undesirable” ODM officials, without provoking popular backlash.”

Call for party loyalty

Osotsi emphasised that ODM remains an independent political party and is not an appendage of UDA. He urged ODM members to resist participation in activities he described as illegal and misleading. He added that several grassroots officials and members in Vihiga and Kakamega counties have already withdrawn from UDA engagements and reaffirmed their loyalty to ODM.

The statement comes amid ongoing internal discussions within ODM on its future direction and party cohesion ahead of the 2027 General Election.