Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot has revealed that President William Ruto is set to chair a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to deliberate on a recent proposal by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee (CMC) on a possible pre-election pact with UDA.

Speaking during an interview on a local podcast on Tuesday night, January 13, 2025, the Senate Majority Leader stated that, among other issues on the agenda, ODM’s proposal on a possible coalition pact will feature prominently during the UDA’s NEC meeting.

He explained that just as ODM had given its party leader the green light to engage UDA on pre-coalition arrangements, UDA would also grant its party leader the mandate to engage other parties, including ODM, on similar pre-coalition plans as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.

“Tomorrow we will be holding our NEC meeting as UDA, under the chairmanship of our party leader, President William Ruto. Among many other issues, such as the grassroots elections, the proposed coalition plan by ODM will also feature. We, as UDA, will also permit him to engage with ODM and other interested parties,” Cheruiyot stated.

Senator Cheruiyot welcomed the move by ODM, noting that after being defeated several times by President William Ruto and having observed that teams associated with Ruto often emerge victorious, the party had opted to seek cooperation rather than remain in opposition, as it had done in the past.

ODM-UDA coalition proposal

This follows the ODM Central Management Committee meeting in Vipingo, Kilifi County, which was led by Oburu Odinga. Among the many issues discussed, a key resolution was that the party should begin pre-coalition talks with other parties, particularly President William Ruto’s UDA, to determine how ODM will position itself for 2027.

The party is now set to commence public engagements, with the first public rally scheduled to take place in Kibra within the week. These engagements will culminate in a National Delegate Conference (NDC), the party’s highest decision-making body, which will formally endorse the outcomes of the engagements and the party leader’s position.

ODM MPs support the move

This move was also welcomed and rubber-stamped by a section of MPs drawn from the Orange party, led by Ruaraka MP Tom Joseph Kajwang, Makadara MP George Aladwa, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, and others.

They praised the decision while warning Secretary General Edwin Sifuna that he risks losing his SG position should he fail to toe the party line.

Eddy Oketch has also come out to support the resolve by his Orange Party to begin pre-coalition talks with the UDA party.