ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has expressed confidence that a formal coalition between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) would hand the ruling alliance a commanding victory in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during an ODM meeting in Kajiado county, Wanga said combining the support bases of the two parties would deliver an estimated 17 million votes, making the coalition difficult to defeat at the ballot.
"If you count all our votes and you put together with UDA, we will have some 17 million votes," Wanga told party supporters.
"And we will win the next elections and we will be with the Maasai community with us."
She urged ODM members to remain united behind the proposed political arrangement while reaffirming the party's support for President William Ruto's re-election bid.
"We are saying two terms for our president. We say ODM should remain steadfast," she said.
Wanga's remarks come as ODM and UDA intensify negotiations aimed at transforming their working relationship under the broad-based government into a formal pre-election coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The two parties have already initiated official consultations through their respective leadership organs, with negotiation teams mandated to draft a joint manifesto and develop a framework that would guide the proposed coalition.
The talks mark a significant political shift for ODM, which has traditionally been the country's largest opposition party but has increasingly worked alongside the Kenya Kwanza administration since the formation of the broad-based government.
Within ODM, the coalition push has been championed by senior leaders including Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, Wanga and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, who argue that the alliance offers political stability and an opportunity to implement shared development priorities.
The proposed coalition is expected to reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections, with both parties seeking to consolidate support across regions that have traditionally voted differently.
Wanga's projection of 17 million votes also comes as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) continues with an ambitious voter registration campaign aimed at significantly expanding the country's electoral roll.
The electoral commission is targeting the registration of at least 6.5 million new voters before the next General Election.
If the target is achieved, the total number of registered voters would rise from the current 22,120,458 to about 28,497,075 by 2027.
The commission has identified youth as the largest pool of potential new voters and has also launched initiatives targeting Kenyans living in the diaspora and eligible voters serving prison sentences.
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon has appealed to political leaders across the country to support the registration drive by encouraging eligible Kenyans to acquire voter cards.
