We just want our share: Oburu takes jab at critics ahead of ODM-UDA talks
By Aloys Michael, March 8, 2026Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga has dismissed critics of the proposed cooperation framework between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), insisting the talks are aimed at securing what he termed the party’s rightful share in national governance and development.
Speaking during a church service in Bondo on Sunday, March 8, 2026, Oburu said ODM leaders were preparing a negotiating team to push for the implementation of key issues contained in the 10-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2025 between the late opposition leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto.
His remarks come ahead of the expected review of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, which had formed the basis of the 10-point agenda.
“We want to negotiate so that we have something which we deserve. We do not want something from the mountain. We do not want your share. We just want our share as ODM,” Oburu said.
He added that the party leadership was already working to assemble a team that would drive the discussions forward.
“We are going to continue to negotiate, and we are preparing a negotiating team, and we are working very hard,” he stated.
The March 7 deadline
The ODM party leader also sought to clarify speculation surrounding March 7, 2026, a date some critics had interpreted as a deadline for the MoU between ODM and UDA.
According to him, the date was never meant to signify the collapse of the agreement but rather to mark an interim review of the implementation progress.
“Some people were saying that the 10-point agenda is coming to an end on the seventh. I want to tell my people that the seventh was chosen deliberately because it was the anniversary of the broad-based government,” he said.
“It was not that the world is coming to an end on the seventh. It was not that ODM and UDA were divorcing on the seventh.”
Oburu said the leadership had already reviewed the progress report together with the President and found that significant milestones had been achieved.
“On the seventh it was just to give an interim report of the 10-point agenda. We have gone through that report with His Excellency the President. We have seen the progress. There’s a lot of progress which has been made,” he said.
Defending the MoU’s impact
Oburu argued that critics claiming the MoU had delivered zero performance had failed to examine the details of what had already been implemented.
“There are some people who are saying that the 10-point agenda has zero performance. They do not take their time to go through the details of what is in the 10-point agenda and see what has been implemented and what has not,” he said.
He pointed to progress in strengthening devolution, highlighting the allocation of Ksh415 billion to counties approved by Parliament.
“Even on devolution and devolved funds, something which we passed in the Senate and in Parliament was to give counties 415 billion shillings,” Oburu noted.
He added that ODM leaders were pushing to increase that amount further.
“Our departed leader had said he wanted it to reach 450, and I know these MPs together with the senators are planning to push it to 450,” he said, arguing that adequate funding is critical to effective devolution.
“Devolution cannot be strengthened without giving them money. You have to devolve money.”
Sifuna opposes closed-door meeting
However, the evolving ODM-UDA engagement has triggered sharp divisions within ODM itself.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has opposed plans to table the ODM-UDA pact report in a closed-door meeting of party leaders.
Sifuna has vowed to mobilise supporters for a public rally at Jacaranda Grounds, where he says a parallel report will be presented detailing the implementation status of the 10-point MoU.
The rally, he says, will allow party members and the public to independently assess whether the commitments agreed between Odinga and Ruto have been fulfilled.