The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) says work on a joint manifesto with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for the 2027 General Election is well under way. The coalition's programme will be built on President William Ruto's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

In a statement on Tuesday, October 27, the ruling party said the Broad-Based Committee on Manifesto Development had made "significant progress in drafting the joint coalition's commitments". The committee was set up by the UDA-ODM Joint Parliamentary Group. UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar met committee co-chair Emmanuel Nzai the same day.

Built on BETA and 'Usawa ni Sawa'

UDA said the manifesto will rest on Ruto's new "Usawa ni Sawa" (equity for all) message. It added that the committee will look at where current policies have fallen short. The party said the coalition is going into the 2027 election determined "to consolidate the gains made so far".

The process started in August, when Ruto and ODM leader Oburu Oginga said Kenya Kwanza and ODM had "formally resolved" to write a joint manifesto and form a coalition for 2027. They set up two teams. The first is a 10-member manifesto committee, with five members from each side. The second is a coalition framework committee to work out power-sharing and decision-making. Under the plan, Ruto will seek a second term on the coalition ticket.

The hard questions

The manifesto may be the easier part. ODM has said any pre-election deal must be based on a 50-50 power-sharing formula. In June, Oburu said this would cover more than Cabinet slots.

"When we form a coalition agreement with UDA, it will be based on a 50-50 share, making us stronger. We will even negotiate on the presidency; we will not leave any seat unnegotiated," he said.

ODM also wants the deputy president's slot if it is to be treated as an equal partner. Inside Kenya Kwanza, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said he will remain Ruto's running mate, and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has publicly shown interest in the job.

Reports on the talks also point to a dispute over zoning. ODM wants an agreement not to field rival candidates in some areas, while UDA has publicly opposed the idea.

Internal pressure on ODM

ODM is negotiating while divided. Since Raila Odinga's death in October 2025, the party has fallen out with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. The party removed him as secretary general and he has since become one of the most prominent critics of Ruto's re-election. Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi movement has been drawing ODM supporters and is set for a formal launch this week.

Neither party has said when the final manifesto or the coalition agreement will be made public.

Photo: Kenyans.co.ke (Ruto and Oburu Oginga at ODM's 20th anniversary, Mombasa). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.