ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has warned politicians outside the Orange party to stop trying to steer its negotiations with President William Ruto's UDA, saying the party has the structures and experience to chart its own path ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a statement dated Thursday, October 29, the Siaya senator said he had noted attempts by "certain individuals, including some non-ODM members" to prescribe how ODM should engage UDA during what he called his "temporary absence from active political engagement", including whether the talks should end in a written agreement.

"Not public spectacles"

Oburu said the engagement with UDA involves serious political bargaining that should not play out in front of cameras. "These negotiations are serious political engagements, not public spectacles," he said, adding that ODM is "an established political institution with legitimate structures".

He told those outside the party to focus on the many problems facing the country instead of offering unsolicited advice. "ODM knows where it is going, what it wants and how to get there," he said, adding that parties seeking alliances or mergers should make their own choices.

The 10-point agenda

The ODM leader restated that full implementation of the 10-point agenda agreed between the late Raila Odinga's party and the Ruto administration is a non-negotiable pillar of any deal. "Our commitment to this agenda is absolute," he said.

The talks are expected to cover power-sharing, the distribution of political positions and the delivery of past commitments. Some ODM figures have publicly pushed for an equal share of government, while others have floated the deputy presidency as the party's price for backing Ruto in 2027.

A party under strain

The statement comes amid open divisions in ODM over whether any pact with UDA should be formalised in writing, with rival camps airing their positions at rallies and on television. Opposition figure Rigathi Gachagua has also mocked the party's demands, saying ODM has little to offer Ruto in return.

Oburu has been away from the political frontline as he recovers from illness. He thanked supporters for their prayers and said he is making steady progress.

ODM and UDA have not announced a timeline for concluding the negotiations or said whether a final agreement will be made public.

Photos: The Standard; The Star (Handout). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.