Credit: Willis Raburu
Media personality Willis Raburu has weighed in on the growing debate over potential pre-coalition talks between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), stressing that the party must first solidify its identity and grassroots before considering alliances.
Raburu’s comments follow remarks by EALA MP Winnie Odinga during a Citizen TV interview on Tuesday night, where she cautioned that ODM should reorganize itself before engaging in coalition discussions.
“I would like ODM to organize itself first before we start to speak about coalitions. I believe ODM needs to strengthen itself, reenergize its grassroots, listen to its members and follow the creed of its people,” Winnie said.
The remarks come amid signals from ODM leadership, led by party leader Oburu Odinga, that the party is exploring pre-coalition talks with UDA ahead of the 2026 general elections.
ODM made the announcement after its Central Management Committee (CMC) meeting in Kilifi earlier this month.
President William Ruto recently indicated that UDA is ready for such discussions following a National Governing Council meeting at State House.
Reacting to the ongoing debate on X, Raburu echoed Winnie Odinga’s call for internal reflection.
He questioned ODM’s current direction, asking: “ODM needs to ask itself what is its identity? What is at its core? You cannot as a party move around the country popularizing another party ethos.”
Raburu argued that the party is at an “opportune and unavoidable moment” to undergo ideological re-anchoring and institutional recalibration.
He said ODM must return to its founding principles, including social justice, participatory democracy, and people-centered governance.
“Only after this internal renewal,” Raburu concluded, “should the party look for suitors, if need be.”