President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have officially signed a cooperation agreement, formalising the broad-based government they established last year following the Gen Z revolt.
The agreement, signed on the steps of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi in the presence of party officials and hundreds of supporters, was presented as solely aimed at addressing the challenges facing Kenyans. It was explicitly stated that the pact was not intended to pave the way for ODM to join the government, contrary to widespread speculation.
The memorandum, read out by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and his UDA counterpart Hassan Omar, outlines a 10-point agenda. This includes full implementation of the NADCO report, inclusivity in all public spheres, safeguarding and strengthening devolution, and economic empowerment, particularly for the youth. Additionally, the agreement commits to protecting the right to peaceful assembly, ensuring compensation for human rights violations, auditing the national debt, enhancing the fight against corruption, eliminating public resource wastage, and protecting national sovereignty by preventing abductions, suppression of public will, and curtailment of press freedoms.
Following President Ruto’s meeting with Raila at State House Mombasa on 24th February after his return from Ethiopia, speculation had been rife that the two leaders were planning to launch a political alliance to secure ODM’s position within the Ruto administration. Reports also suggested that more Raila allies were poised for Cabinet and Principal Secretary positions in an impending reshuffle, following the Public Service Commission’s completion of interviews for these roles earlier in the year.
However, at the signing ceremony, various leaders, including Ruto and Raila, stressed that the agreement was not about power-sharing but rather about service to the people of Kenya.
“This agreement is not about sharing positions or winning elections. It is about the people and the interests of Kenya. That is what truly matters,” Ruto affirmed.
The President further revealed that after the election, he reached out to Raila, acknowledging his past leadership in ODM, and assured him of dignified treatment.
“I wanted him to be treated well. I will do everything within my power to ensure that he is respected in Kenya. I am not doing this for any selfish reason; I am doing it because, as a younger person, I owe it to you, as an elder, to honour the contributions you have made to this country. This is the kind of relationship I have built with Raila Odinga,” he stated.
In his speech, Ruto highlighted that Kenya is undergoing significant socio-economic and political changes within the broader global context of technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, climate change, and demographic transformations. He underscored the widespread demand for meaningful change and progress across the nation.
“Never before have Kenyans expressed such a deep and widespread yearning for positive change and political, economic, and social transformation that leaves no one behind. The expectation for fundamental progress is unanimous, consistent, intense, and universal across the nation. These aspirations, grounded in our nation’s enduring character of boldly pursuing freedom, democratically managing our diverse interests, and engaging progressive institutions, serve as a clear notice for all of us that the time has come for us to seize this historic opportunity, unite more strongly than ever before, and deliver meaningful change for the Kenyan people.”
He further noted that it was insufficient to merely identify systemic and structural obstacles; rather, leaders must rise above political differences and embrace a higher vision for Kenya. Ruto reiterated his commitment to implementing the NADCO report to tackle key national concerns, including the cost of living, youth unemployment, and gender inclusion. He pledged to foster inclusivity in governance, protect and strengthen devolution, create opportunities for the youth, uphold integrity in leadership, and safeguard the right to peaceful assembly.
“We will raise and manage national resources responsibly to reduce our debt burden by ensuring transparency, responsible borrowing, and an audit of past debts. We will fight corruption decisively, eliminate public resource wastage, and uphold the rule of law and constitutionalism, ensuring that government officials respect judicial decisions and protect the rights of all citizens.”
Raila, on his part, stated that the primary objective of the memorandum of understanding was to ease tensions in the country, reconcile the population, alleviate suffering, and propel Kenya forward by addressing critical socio-economic and political challenges.
“As leaders of the largest political parties in the country, we arrived at the understanding that in a time of significant challenges to our country, it is not merely enough to grandstand or stand aside and criticise, easy as those may be,” he said.
Raila added: “They say any madman can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one. We have agreed to help build a barn for our country rather than merely kick down what we have.”
He emphasised that the parties had agreed to use their platforms to bring together diverse voices and concerns to address Kenya’s challenges through a truly national and inclusive framework.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, who has previously opposed any political alignment between ODM and UDA ahead of the 2027 elections, affirmed that they had thoroughly reviewed the agreement to ensure clarity on its purpose.
“In my capacity as Secretary General, I have certain constitutional duties, and that is why I am standing here to execute those duties in accordance with the ODM constitution. We have taken the liberty to read out this memorandum of understanding so that we are clear on what it is and what it is not,” he told the gathering.
Sifuna further noted that Kenya has experienced prolonged political crises that have hindered development. He highlighted that both Ruto and Raila, as leaders of the largest parties, recognised the need for broad-based collaboration to address these persistent challenges.
Raila and Ruto initially agreed to work together following the Gen Z protests, which posed a significant threat to Ruto’s government, with demonstrators breaching security to storm Parliament and launching nationwide “Ruto Must Go” demonstrations.
While the KICC pact does not entail a power-sharing arrangement, ODM’s immediate focus appears to be the implementation of the NADCO report. However, it remains uncertain whether Ruto will be able to implement his ambitious agenda without drawing from ODM’s expertise and broader political networks.
