President William Ruto has told leaders in the broad-based coalition that winning the 2027 General Election is their only option, as UDA and ODM move closer to formalising their political partnership.

Speaking on Monday at a three-day retreat for leaders in the broad-based coalition in Naivasha, Nakuru County, Dr Ruto said the emerging alliance was not merely about securing power but also determining the country’s future, warning that an opposition victory would jeopardise the gains his administration has made. The President urged leaders of the two political formations to work together and sell their record to voters, portraying the opposition as disorganised and lacking a clear agenda.

“In the coming election, we must win, by God's grace, because we do not have an option. The alternative is difficult to fathom. Inshallah, we must win the next election not for your sake but for the sake of Kenya.”

Dr Ruto said the broad-based government has a clear development agenda and a record to defend, unlike the opposition, which he accused of lacking both a vision and a track record. “When I look at the alternative, I shudder. A group of individuals without vision and agenda is dangerous for the country. The alternative is difficult to fathom. That side is in chaos, and all they do is fumble and mumble when asked for a track record,” the President said.

ruto oburu naivasha retreat — President Ruto, ODM leader Oburu Oginga arrive for broad-based retreat

He signalled that the working relationship between his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) could evolve into a formal pre-election coalition. The President said the coalition's roadmap and campaign agenda would be anchored in a document expected to emerge from the Naivasha retreat. Some 250 members of the National Assembly, 46 senators, 20 governors, 20 deputy governors and Cabinet secretaries, among other leaders, were present.

Dr Ruto described it as one of the largest meetings of elected leaders in Kenya’s history, “second only to the grand coalition meeting” convened by former President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. “It is not easy to put together 250 MPs, 46 senators and other senior government officials like we have done today. This proves that these are the two largest political formations in Kenya and I have the privilege to be a leader of one.”

He reiterated that his decision to reach out to Mr Odinga after the 2022 election was driven by a desire to end political divisions and find areas of convergence between the two formations. The two sides had discovered common ground on programmes, including affordable housing, universal healthcare and economic empowerment, he added.

The President said the entry of ODM officials into the government had helped accelerate implementation of his administration’s agenda, singling out Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi for praise. “Mbadi has distinguished himself as one who has understood what we were doing better than any other CS who joined the government,” he said.

He listed health, agriculture, housing, infrastructure and social services among areas where the broad-based government has made progress.

President William Ruto, his Deputy Kithure Kindiki, ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga, Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi and other political leaders allied to broad-based government at the Lake Naivasha Resort in Naivasha, Nakuru County on August 10, 2026 during a retreat.

Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group

For his part, ODM leader Oburu Oginga, who co-chaired the retreat, defended the party’s decision to work with the government, saying it was necessary to stabilise the country and advance its development agenda. He said the Orange outfit had previously entered into political arrangements with governments, but the current broad-based partnership had given the party a greater role in government.

UDA and ODM formed a 10-member team to develop a common manifesto. The team will be tasked with developing a shared policy framework to guide the coalition’s campaign and agenda. Dr Ruto announced that the two political formations had also agreed to contest the election together.

“After consultations within our respective parties, UDA and ODM have today formally resolved to constitute a coalition and to contest the 2027 General Election together. As part of that agreement, ODM has formally resolved not to field a presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election and to support the re-election of President William Samoei Ruto for a second and final term,” Dr Ruto said.

“The manifesto will draw from our shared values and priorities, while being informed by the aspirations, ideas and priorities expressed by Kenyans through the national conversation on Kenya Beyond Vision 2030 and reflected in the National Development Charter that will emerge from it,” Dr Ruto said.

ODM has nominated Isaac Wanuge, Maryam Abdullahi Mbaruk, Leonida Kerubo Omosa, Carey Orege and Prof Bernard Muok. UDA has nominated Emmanuel Nzai, Daniel Mwai, Bramwel Simiyu, Mohammed Hassan and Dr Cecilia Ngetich. The parties’ executive directors will serve as ex officio members.

Dr Ruto and Dr Oginga will each nominate five members to a second team to prepare the coalition framework agreement. “They will recommend the principles and governance structures that will guide our partnership and propose leadership arrangements necessary to take this coalition forward. This work begins immediately because the mandate sought must be matched by a programme worthy of Kenya’s future.”

President William Ruto addresses the media at Lake Naivasha Resort on August 10, 2026 after attending a broad-based government retreat.

Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group

“We are the architects of these coalitions and we have enough experience in forming them. We will form this coalition and will agree on how to move forward towards the 2027 poll.”

ODM leader Oburu Oginga, who co-chaired the retreat with President Ruto, defended the party's decision to work with the government, saying it was necessary to stabilise the country and advance its development agenda.

Mr Oburu said ODM had previously entered into political arrangements with governments but argued that the current broad-based partnership had given the party a greater role in government.

“Before joining the broad-based government, we had a handshake with former President Uhuru Kenyatta. However, in that arrangement we did not get a single government position apart from being promised support for the presidency in 2022,” he said.

Mr Oburu said ODM had subsequently returned to the opposition before joining the broad-based government, where several party members were appointed to Cabinet.

He said the party was prepared to support President Ruto's ambition of transforming Kenya into a first-world economy.

He also challenged leaders who are unhappy with the coalition to openly declare their position rather than remaining on the fence.

“Let people raise issues with honesty, but do not be a fence sitter. You must decide where you stand, as we want to know who is with us and those who are not,” he said.

Mr Oburu said the coalition was working on policies that would guide the partnership towards the 2027 election.

“In the next two days, we are going to look into the issues of our country which will catapult this coalition to power in 2027,” he said.

The coalition's challenge will now be to translate the broad-based government arrangement into a formal political alliance capable of presenting a united front in 2027, while managing competing ambitions within the two formations.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki commended the teamwork displayed by the broad-based government, saying the partnership had helped accelerate implementation of the government's development agenda.

The three-day retreat, which began on Sunday, is scheduled to end on Wednesday.

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