The high-level meeting between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) held on Thursday at State House has triggered renewed debate over the future of the emerging political cooperation between the two parties, with concerns emerging over power sharing, trust, and political dominance.
Speaking during the News Gang show, Citizen TV journalist Sam Gituku questioned whether the engagement between the two political formations was sufficient to resolve underlying tensions that have continued to define their uneasy political alignment.
Gituku noted that despite the public display of unity, key unresolved issues still linger between the two sides, particularly around power distribution and internal coalition dynamics.
“There are real issues between ODM and UDA like ODM getting the DP seat, zoning, officials talking the way they want. With the meeting today, does it resolve the issues and will we see cessation of the hostilities?” he posed.
His remarks come at a time when discussions between the two parties have increasingly centred on how leadership positions and political influence will be shared within the broader framework of their cooperation.
Among the contentious issues is ODM’s reported interest in securing the deputy president position, alongside disagreements over zoning of political influence and communication discipline among senior party officials.
Gituku further argued that the political style of President William Ruto could significantly shape the trajectory of the cooperation, noting what he described as a dominant approach to political decision-making.
“President Ruto is a politician that plays the politics of dominance. ODM is coming in to form a coalition with UDA and the coalition leader will most likely be Ruto. There is reason to worry because when he decides what he wants, he goes for it regardless of the situation,” he said.
The remarks reflect broader political perceptions surrounding the evolving relationship between the two parties, which have been engaging in structured talks aimed at building what has been described as a “broad-based political arrangement.”
Thursday’s meeting at State House culminated in the proposal to establish a joint Broad-Based Management Committee to coordinate cooperation between UDA and ODM, involving party leaders and selected government and parliamentary officials.
However, questions remain over whether institutional frameworks alone will be enough to address deeper political mistrust and competing ambitions within the alliance.
Gituku also pointed to what he described as intensified political mobilisation across the country, suggesting that both camps are quietly consolidating their support bases ahead of future political contests.
“I’m seeing a situation where every political camp is recruiting its base and that’s why you see ODM being very concerned about its bases. UDA is also already doing mobilization; you think they won’t do it in other areas like Nyanza and western? UDA members may be quiet but it doesn’t mean that they are not concerned,” he said.
His analysis comes amid growing scrutiny of the UDA–ODM engagement, with political observers noting that while the dialogue signals a shift towards cooperation, underlying electoral calculations and regional political interests remain active.