A team of experts tasked with crafting a joint UDA-ODM political blueprint for the 2027 General Election has hit the ground running. It held its first meeting to begin preparations for nationwide consultations.

United Democratic Alliance Executive Director Nicodemus Bore, who sits on the team as an ex-officio member, said the experts have begun organising themselves into technical teams.

He said that they are expected to come up with a people-driven document underpinning the partnership between President William Ruto’s UDA and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) headed by Dr Oburu Oginga.

“We have started our work. We held our first meeting and are scheduling more. We are organising ourselves into technical teams,” Mr Bore told Sunday Nation.

He said Kenyans should expect extensive consultations, with the team planning to travel across the country to gather views from diverse groups before settling on the final proposals.

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The experts will first review the previous UDA and ODM manifestos, assess the extent to which their pledges have been implemented and identify areas where delivery could have been better.

“We want to make sure that what we promised in 2022 is fully accomplished,” Mr Bore said.

The 12-member team comprises five nominees from each party; with Mr Oduor Ong’wen and Mr Bore serving as ex-officio members.

ODM Party Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen.

Photo credit: File

ODM has Mr Isaac Wanuge, Ms Maryam Abdullahi Mbaruk, Prof Leonida Kerubo Omosa, Mr Carey Orege and Prof Bernard Muok. UDA is represented by Dr Emmanuel Nzai, Dr Daniel Mwai, Mr Bramwel Simiyu, Mr Mohammed Hassan and Dr Cecilia Ng’etich.

Mr Orege, who is the acting chairman, said the experts had held an introductory meeting and were awaiting their formal terms of reference before developing a detailed work plan.

“We have had an introductory meeting. We shall hold another meeting this week. We are waiting for our terms of reference then we see how to go about it. We shall then develop a timeline,” he said.

Mr Bore said the team will have co-chairs drawn from the two parties once the structure is fully established.

The composition of the team reflects an emphasis on technical and professional expertise rather than political prominence, with members drawn from economic policy, infrastructure, education, science, health, public administration and party organisation.

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The team will have to reconcile the political traditions of two parties that were on opposite sides of Kenya’s political divide in the last election, and translate their cooperation into a programme that can be sold to voters.

Mr Bore said the experts will examine what has been achieved, what remains outstanding and what could have been done differently.

“We don’t want to look like we are operating in utopia. We want to ensure all the regions’ aspirations are put in the manifesto,” he said.

The team is also expected to prepare a public programme of work outlining how consultations and drafting will be done.

President Ruto announced the group’s formation at the conclusion of the latest UDA-ODM political retreat, saying its work would go beyond producing a campaign document.

William Ruto and Oburu Oginga — President William Ruto and ODM leader Oburu Oginga at the UDA-ODM Joint Parliamentary Group meeting at KICC in Nairobi.

Photo credit: PCS

The manifesto, he said, will draw from the parties’ shared priorities and the National Development Charter expected to emerge from the ongoing National Conversation on Kenya Beyond Vision 2030.

“Their task is not simply to produce a political document,” the president said.

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The group of experts is expected to identify common priorities, resolve areas of disagreement and formulate policies addressing the economic, social and governance aspirations of Kenyans.

The UDA-ODM rapprochement dates back to the political realignment that followed the 2024 Gen Z protests, when President Ruto reached out to his political rival, former ODM leader Raila Odinga, and formed what became to be known broad-based government.

In July 2024, Dr Ruto appointed four senior ODM figures — Mr John Mbadi, Mr Opiyo Wandayi, Mr Hassan Joho and Mr Wycliffe Oparanya — to his Cabinet.

The rapprochement deepened on March 7, 2025, when President Ruto and Raila Odinga signed a 10-point cooperation agreement at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

Raila said that it was not a coalition, but a framework for cooperation aimed at easing political tensions and addressing Kenya’s social, economic and governance challenges. However, Raila died on October 15, 2025 while receiving treatment in India before work was complete.

The agreement covered implementation of the National Dialogue Committee report, inclusivity in public life, strengthening devolution, youth empowerment and integrity, among other areas.

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jjochieng@ke.nationmedia.com