President William Ruto with ODM party leader Oburu Odinga and other leaders in Naivasha on August 10, 2026./PCS
UDA and ODM have formed a 10-member joint team to develop a common manifesto ahead of the 2027 General Election, in a move that signals deeper cooperation between the two parties.
The team will be tasked with developing a shared policy framework that will guide the coalition’s campaign and political agenda for the 2027 polls.
President William Ruto announced the formation of the team during a Broad-Based Government media address in Naivasha on Monday, saying the two political formations had also agreed to form a coalition to contest the election together.
“After consultations within our respective parties and formations, the Kenya Kwanza and the ODM have today formally resolved to develop a joint manifesto for the next election and constitute a coalition to contest the 2027 general election together,” Ruto said.
Ruto said the move would formalise the political partnership between Kenya Kwanza and ODM, which began through their cooperation in government.
He said the two sides had formally resolved to develop a joint manifesto and establish a coalition to contest the 2027 election together.
“As a partnership in the national interest, must now be given a clear political framework for the future. These decisions mark an important new chapter in our partnership. What began as cooperation in government will now become a common political platform upon which we shall seek the mandate of the Kenyan people in August next year,” he said.
Ruto said the joint team will comprise five members from each political formation, with the executive directors of ODM and UDA serving as ex officio members.
ODM has nominated Isaac Wanuge, Mariam Abdulai, Leonida Kerubo Omosa, Engineer Kari Orege and Professor Bernard Mok.
Kenya Kwanza has nominated Emmanuel Nzai, Dr Daniel Mwai, Bramwell Simiyu, Mohammed Hassan and Dr Cecilia Ngetich.
“Their task is not simply to produce a political document,” Ruto said.
He said the manifesto would be based on the shared values and priorities of the two formations while incorporating views from Kenyans.
The President said the team would also draw from ideas and priorities raised through the national conversation on Kenya Beyond Vision 2030 and the National Development Charter expected to emerge from the process.
“The manifesto will draw from our shared values and priorities while being informed by the aspirations, ideas, and priorities expressed by Kenyans, including through the national conversation on Kenya Beyond Vision 2030, and reflected in the National Development Charter that will emerge from it.
Ruto said the partnership would seek to consolidate the progress made by the broad-based government, complete ongoing reforms and present Kenyans with a common programme for the next phase of the country’s development,” he said.
The formation of the joint manifesto team marks a formal step towards the planned Kenya Kwanza-ODM coalition ahead of the August 2027 polls.
The development comes as UDA and ODM continue working together under the broad-based government, with leaders from the two parties increasingly holding joint political engagements.
The two parties are expected to use the joint process to identify areas of common interest and develop a unified agenda for voters.
The move could further reshape Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, with both parties seeking to consolidate their support and build a broader political coalition.
Further details on the composition of the joint team and the timelines for finalising the common manifesto are expected to emerge as the coalition-building process progresses.
