Sifuna: There's no 2027 coalition deal between ODM, UDA

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has maintained that there is no coalition agreement between his party and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Speaking on Citizen TV, Sifuna said the party leader Raila Odinga has already pronounced himself on the matter.

He insisted that once a party is unpopular, it does not matter how many other parties they pull together because they will still lose elections.

He cited the case of Azimio in 2022, which had a coalition of 26 parties but still lost to the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

“I can speak authoritatively, there is no agreement between ODM and UDA about 2027, and I've said on this show, and I will repeat it, if you are unpopular, it doesn't matter how many leaders you bring around you, we will lose the election.

“I am very clear in my mind, because the people are clear in their minds on what a government is supposed to do, and for as long as you are not addressing those things, it doesn't matter. We lost an election with 26 parties,” Sifuna said.

The Orange party’s SG noted that while ODM and UDA are currently working together, they have clear instructions for their leader that ODM must retain its identity.

Sifuna said the party has also not stopped its quest to govern the country because that would mean closing it down.

“If you want to know the position of the party on matters to do with coalition buildings and what is going to happen, there's only one voice you listen to, because the constitution of the party, which I know from front to end, places that responsibility in the party leader, listen to what Raila Odinga is saying.

“Raila Odinga has left specific and clear instructions to all of us, including some of the people who are speaking there, that first of all, ODM must retain its identity as a political party. Number two, that we have not given up the quest to acquire power, otherwise you fold up your party and go. Political parties exist for this whole purpose of winning powers or democratic means.”

He added that their colleagues in ODM who have been talking of a coalition with UDA are free to say what they want because they are exercising their freedom of speech.

Sifuna said sometimes they say such things only to please the Kenya Kwanza government.

“Every single time since ODM was formed, we are celebrating 20 years this year since this party was formed, every single election, ODM has run a candidate for president, and it's not going to be different.

“So these colleagues of mine, some of them in Parliament, some of them outside parliament, have freedom of speech. Like I said, Let everybody air their views,” he added.