ODM politician Kasmuel McOure has publicly rebuked fellow party leaders who have been attaching conditions to their support for President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election. McOure accused them of undermining an ongoing coalition negotiation process between ODM and UDA. Some ODM figures have been pushing for a 50-50 share of government positions as well as the deputy president slot as the price for backing Ruto's re-election bid.
McOure questioned the logic of maintaining a joint committee tasked with brokering a pre-election agreement between ODM and UDA while individual leaders continued to air unresolved demands at public rallies. He expressed concerns that the conditions were being debated publicly instead of being discussed internally. McOure emphasized that the joint committee's purpose was to resolve such issues, not to have them litigated at public rallies.
McOure made his own position clear, declaring that Ruto deserved backing without any preconditions attached. He stated his support for Ruto, saying "Ruto tunampea TUTAM BILA CONDITIONS. Usawa Ni Sawa. Mbele Pamoja." This stance signals growing tension within ODM between those willing to align with Ruto on open terms and those seeking to extract specific concessions before committing to any formal arrangement.
The debate over the terms of a possible UDA-ODM coalition has intensified as the 2027 election cycle draws closer. The deputy president position, currently occupied by Kithure Kindiki, has emerged as one of the most contentious sticking points. ODM leaders have demanded a 50-50 share of government positions and the deputy president slot as conditions for supporting Ruto's re-election bid.
McOure challenged the negotiation contradictions, asking whether the conditions had ever been raised at the negotiating table or whether the committee had simply failed to resolve them internally. He pressed further, asking what the point of a joint committee was if every rally became another round of negotiations.
The criticism from McOure comes as the 2027 General Election approaches, with various political alliances and coalitions being formed. ODM and UDA are among the parties seeking to form alliances ahead of the election. McOure's stance is seen as a significant development in the ongoing negotiations between the two parties.
The tension within ODM highlights the complexities of forming coalitions and alliances in Kenyan politics. As the election cycle heats up, parties are navigating complex negotiations to secure positions and interests. McOure's public declaration of unconditional support for Ruto reflects the intricate dynamics at play in the lead-up to the 2027 election.
Key points
- ODM politician Kasmuel McOure criticizes party leaders for demanding conditions for supporting President Ruto's re-election bid.
