Speaking to the media on Sunday, Kaluma said ODM is open to negotiations aimed at forming a strong coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election, but warned that any agreement must protect the party’s political identity and territorial strength.
“Once we are done with those negotiations, and I hope they end well, we will go into a pre-election coalition so that we have a strong voice in the government that will be formed. If we don’t agree, then we will run for elections as ODM,” Kaluma stated.
According to the lawmaker, ODM has issued two non-negotiable conditions to the team handling the discussions on behalf of the party, led by ODM leader Oburu Odinga.
First, Kaluma insisted that ODM must remain a distinct and separate political party even after entering into any deal with UDA.
He said the party would not accept arrangements that dilute its identity or reduce it to a subsidiary partner within a broader alliance.
Second, he emphasized that ODM’s political bases and strongholds across the country must be respected through proper zoning and seat allocation.
Second, he emphasized that ODM’s political bases and strongholds across the country must be respected through proper zoning and seat allocation.
This, he said, is necessary to preserve the party’s numerical strength in elected leadership both before and after the elections.
“The conditions that we have given Dr Oburu Odinga and the team involved in those negotiations, including myself as a lawyer, are that ODM will always remain distinct and a separate political party in Kenya. Number two is that the bases and strongholds of the ODM party must be reinforced and left for ODM through zoning,” Kaluma said.
He warned that any breach of these preconditions would be enough for ODM to fault the agreement and withdraw from the negotiations entirely.
“We are saying this because you need numbers in terms of elected leadership as a party to have a voice before elections and even after the elections if you are to demand anything,” he added.
Kaluma’s remarks come as ODM leaders publicly discuss the shape of the potential arrangement with UDA.
“The conditions that we have given Dr Oburu Odinga and the team involved in those negotiations, including myself as a lawyer, are that ODM will always remain distinct and a separate political party in Kenya. Number two is that the bases and strongholds of the ODM party must be reinforced and left for ODM through zoning,” Kaluma said.
He warned that any breach of these preconditions would be enough for ODM to fault the agreement and withdraw from the negotiations entirely.
“We are saying this because you need numbers in terms of elected leadership as a party to have a voice before elections and even after the elections if you are to demand anything,” he added.
Kaluma’s remarks come as ODM leaders publicly discuss the shape of the potential arrangement with UDA.
Earlier on Sunday, ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga also weighed in on the talks during a roadside rally in Dandora, Nairobi.
Wanga confirmed that the party had formally tasked Oburu Odinga with engaging President Ruto in dialogue aimed at forging what she described as a balanced political arrangement.
She made it clear that ODM is not seeking token inclusion in government structures but is instead pushing for a 50/50 power-sharing framework should the talks succeed.
“Sisi kama ODM tumesema hivi, Dr Oburu Odinga aingie katika mazungumzo na President William Ruto, wasikizane, ile ng’ombe ikatwe katikati ODM ichukue nusu, UDA ichukue nusu,” Wanga said.
Her remarks signal that ODM expects equal political weight in any future arrangement, a demand that aligns with Kaluma’s insistence on preserving the party’s strength and bargaining power.
The ongoing discussions have attracted attention across the political divide, with observers noting that a potential ODM-UDA understanding could significantly reshape the political landscape ahead of 2027.
However, Kaluma maintained that ODM is prepared for all outcomes. If the negotiations collapse or fail to meet the party’s expectations, he said ODM will confidently field its own candidates and contest the elections independently.
Wanga confirmed that the party had formally tasked Oburu Odinga with engaging President Ruto in dialogue aimed at forging what she described as a balanced political arrangement.
She made it clear that ODM is not seeking token inclusion in government structures but is instead pushing for a 50/50 power-sharing framework should the talks succeed.
“Sisi kama ODM tumesema hivi, Dr Oburu Odinga aingie katika mazungumzo na President William Ruto, wasikizane, ile ng’ombe ikatwe katikati ODM ichukue nusu, UDA ichukue nusu,” Wanga said.
Her remarks signal that ODM expects equal political weight in any future arrangement, a demand that aligns with Kaluma’s insistence on preserving the party’s strength and bargaining power.
The ongoing discussions have attracted attention across the political divide, with observers noting that a potential ODM-UDA understanding could significantly reshape the political landscape ahead of 2027.
However, Kaluma maintained that ODM is prepared for all outcomes. If the negotiations collapse or fail to meet the party’s expectations, he said ODM will confidently field its own candidates and contest the elections independently.