By Joshua Otieno | April 23, 2026
NAIROBI, KENYA — Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma has declared that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will only enter a pre-election pact with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 General Election if it secures either the Deputy President position or the presidency.
Kaluma made the remarks amid ongoing high-level negotiations between the two parties as they explore the possibility of forming a “coalition of equals.” He emphasized that ODM’s participation in any alliance would be strictly tied to securing a top-tier executive role in government.
“We cannot support a coalition where we are not recognized at the highest level of leadership,” Kaluma asserted, signaling a firm stance as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of 2027.
The legislator underscored ODM’s electoral strength, claiming the party is capable of delivering up to four million votes to a joint ticket. He argued that a unified ODM-UDA front would form a formidable national coalition, potentially dominating both the presidential race and parliamentary representation.
Kaluma also pointed to broader power-sharing expectations, suggesting that ODM deserves a significant share of government positions. He indicated that the party could push for at least half of Cabinet slots, citing its national reach and voter base.
The comments come at a time when ODM and UDA have already initiated cooperation through a newly formed broad-based management framework aimed at harmonizing legislative and executive priorities. However, underlying tensions remain, particularly around the issue of “zoning,” where parties agree not to field candidates against each other in certain regions.
Kaluma described zoning as “non-negotiable,” stressing the need to protect ODM’s traditional strongholds from political competition within the proposed alliance.
His position reflects a growing push within ODM to leverage its grassroots support for long-term political gains. While the short-term objective appears to be securing the Deputy President slot in 2027, the party is also positioning itself for a potential presidential bid in the 2032 election cycle.
Despite the hardline stance, divisions persist within ODM ranks. Some leaders support the idea of a coalition with UDA, while others remain cautious, advocating for the party to field its own presidential candidate.
As negotiations continue, Kaluma’s remarks highlight the high stakes and complex bargaining shaping Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the next General Election.
