President William Ruto on Thursday, April 23, hosted officials from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) at State House Nairobi.
Ruto said the meeting brought together the governing bodies of both parties and that he co-chaired the session alongside ODM Party Leader and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga.
The meeting marks the first formal engagement between the two political outfits since ODM called for greater respect within the framework of the broad-based government arrangement.
State House Nairobi hosts high-level meeting between Ruto, UDA and ODM officials. Photo: Courtesy.
ODM had accused UDA of undermining its influence and encroaching on its political strongholds, with tensions reportedly heightened by zoning discussions within the coalition.
President William Ruto and ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga were joined at the meeting by Deputy Party Leaders, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir.
Also in attendance were ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga and her UDA counterpart Cecily Mbarire.
Parliamentary leaders from both parties within the broad-based government also attended the talks, underscoring the high-level nature of the engagement.
Notably, this marked the first meeting between ODM leadership and Hassan Omar, the Secretary General of UDA, since ODM publicly criticized his earlier remarks about the party.
At a recent youth convention in Nairobi, ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga emphasized that the party would maintain its independence and would not be absorbed into any other political outfit.
Meanwhile, ODM Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati accused UDA of engaging in intimidation tactics, insisting that ODM remains self-sustaining and does not depend on financial support from its coalition partner.
