Wamae calls for genuine alternatives beyond ODM, UDA ahead of 2027
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 10, 2025Former Roots Party deputy presidential running mate Justina Wamae has urged Kenyans to look beyond the dominant political formations of ODM and UDA as the country approaches the 2027 general election.
Through a statement issued on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Wamae argued that the two parties have proven to be indistinguishable in their policies and approaches to governance. She noted that ODM’s decision to align itself with the Kenya Kwanza administration was a clear indication that the political class lacked a genuine alternative for citizens seeking change.
Wamae emphasised that Kenyans should push for fresh ideas, new ideologies, and practical solutions to the country’s pressing challenges. She dismissed the continued recycling of outdated slogans, pointing out that popular political catchphrases such as the “24-hour economy” have been in use since the early 1990s but have not translated into meaningful progress.
She further challenged political parties to rethink their strategies and move away from the routine reliance on recycled promises and generic manifestos. According to her, Kenya’s democracy can only thrive if voters reject complacency and demand innovation in governance.
“When ODM joined the KK administration, they told us that their manifestos were more or less the same. Meaning none of the 2 were the alternative. 2027 Kenyans should demand new ideas, ideology, solutions and alternatives. We are tired of phrases such as ’24-hour economy’, which was used by presidential candidates Kibaki and Matiba back in 1992. Bwana, political parties should discard those yellow pages they call notes,” Wamae stated.
2027 race
This comes at a time when political alliances are shaping up in preparation for 2027, with most of them vowing to unseat President Ruto from power.
Since ODM, which for long has been known for their opposition role in government and their insinuations of supporting President Ruto for a second term, a faction led by the former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, which is better known as the United Opposition, has risen to fill this gap left by ODM.
They have been carrying out a series of meetings with them debating on who to settle as the coalition’s flagbearer in the next election.