The UDA National Executive Committee meeting chaired by President Ruto at State House, Nairobi, January 14, 2025. /PCS

The United Democratic Alliance National Executive Committee has formally mandated party leader President William Ruto to initiate structured coalition negotiations with the Orange Democratic Movement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The move signals UDA’s resolve to formalise and strengthen the parties’ growing political partnership amid disquite within the opposition outfit over whether or not to support Ruto’s re-election bid.

In a communiqué issued after a NEC meeting held in Nairobi on Wednesday, January 14, and chaired by President Ruto, the party said it had taken note of ODM’s decision to pursue formal talks with UDA within the Kenya Kwanza Coalition.

The NEC stated that it had taken note of ODM’s Central Management Committee to initiate structured negotiations with the UDA to strengthen the ongoing political partnership and negotiate a coalition deal ahead of the 2027 general elections.


Following that acknowledgement, the NEC resolved to place the responsibility of steering the engagement on the party leader.

“The NEC mandated the UDA party leader to establish mechanisms for structured engagement with the ODM party to achieve the desired outcome,” the communiqué said, effectively authorising President Ruto to lead talks aimed at shaping a pre-election coalition framework.The UDA National Executive Committee meeting chaired by President Ruto at State House, Nairobi, January 14, 2025. /PCSPresident Ruto chairs the UDA National Executive Committee meeting at State House, Nairobi, January 14, 2025. /PCS

The decision builds on what the NEC described as an already active political partnership between UDA and ODM.

The two parties have collaborated on the adoption of the National Dialogue Committee report of 2024 (NADCO), whose legislative aspects have been tabled in both Houses of Parliament for implementation.

The partnership has also underpinned the formation of a broad-based administration that has incorporated ODM members into various responsibilities in government.


In addition, the NEC cited the March 7, 2025 signing of a memorandum of understanding anchored on a 10-point agenda and the subsequent establishment of a bipartisan implementation committee as key milestones.

The communiqué also pointed to a consensus on mutual and reciprocal support for UDA and ODM candidates, a strategy that resulted in the two parties winning all the Senate and National Assembly seats contested in the by-elections held on November 27, 2025.UDA secretary general Hassan Omar during the National Executive Committee meeting, January 14, 2025. /PCSUDA deputy party leader Kithure Kindiki confers with Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and Lamu Governor Issa Timmamy during the National Executive Committee meeting, January 14, 2025. /PCSKirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru during the National Executive Committee meeting at State House, Nairobi, January 14, 2025. /PCS

Beyond coalition politics, the NEC meeting reviewed the outcome of the party’s grassroots elections conducted on January 10, 2026, across 20 counties.

The party said 492,439 candidates contested for 231,770 seats in 17,953 polling centres, with about 2.4 million party members participating.

Of those elected, 56 per cent were male, 44 per cent female, while 33 per cent were youth.


However, the NEC acknowledged that the exercise was not fully concluded in some areas.

It directed the National Elections Board to organise and conduct repeat elections within 30 days in all polling centres where elections did not take place or where there was inadequate participation.President Ruto chairs the UDA National Executive Committee meeting at State House, Nairobi, January 14, 2025. /PCS

The NEC also ordered the conduct of ward-level party elections across the country within 30 days after the repeat polls.


To address internal contestations arising from the exercise, the NEC further directed the Electoral and Nomination Dispute Resolution Committee to conclude the resolution of all disputes filed, in accordance with procedures established in the party constitution.