Gladys Wanga: ODM expects half stake with UDA after Oburu, Ruto talks

Speaking in Dandora during a roadside rally on Sunday, ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga said that they expect a fair sharing of resources after discussions between the two party dons ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Wanga, also the Homa Bay governor, said that ODM leader Oburu Odinga should ensure that the party's demands are met amid talks to streamline the partnership between the two top party factions in the country.

"Dr Oburu will go into talks with President Ruto and have the "cow" split in the middle. ODM should take half and UDA take the other half," she said.

She also quelled the ongoing party squabbles that threaten the party's unity ahead of the definitive elections, affirming that the party is still united and will work towards achieving the aspirations of the late Raila Odinga.

"If someone like Raila goes there will be a few squabbles within the party but we will walk on the same road and speak in one language as a party," she added.

The core cause of the big clash in ODM is between those who are driving the narrative that “Raila left us in the broad-based government and this is where we will be even post 2027”, and those who are saying the collaboration was limited in its scope and can certainly not last beyond 2027. 

They opine that ODM will chart its way forward based on its interests first, as a party. 

Those clamoring for the status quo to persist include Oburu, who argues that ODM should maintain Raila’s alignment with the current government.

Oburu has been insistent that cooperation between ODM and the government will give ODM greater leverage and continuity during the general elections in 2027. 

However, the critics of the broad-based government within the ODM party, including a good number of younger leaders, oppose this direction and want ODM to reassert an independent opposition identity. 

President  Ruto has declared that he is targeting a decisive victory in the 2027 polls, saying he wants to win by a margin of between two and three million votes through a possible coalition with ODM.