Oburu chairs first ODM PG meeting, showdown looms as NDC approved for March 27

Addressing the press outside Parliament after the meeting, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed revealed that the PG endorsed the decision to hold a National Delegates Convention (NDC) on March 27, 2026. He noted that the party will issue a 21-day notice for the event on Friday, March 6.

The party also approved a move allowing Dr. Oburu to initiate negotiations with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in a bid to form a strategic alliance ahead of the 2027 General Election.

However, Junet issued a firm disclaimer, stating that ODM’s positions in Parliament remain non-negotiable.

"We want to tell the parties we are associating with that we are not negotiating on our positions in Parliament," Junet stated.

He added that a broad-based Parliamentary Group meeting will be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) next week Tuesday, March 10, where members will receive a report on the 10-point agenda.

Out of this, the PG meeting emphasised the need to prioritise compensation for protest victims and an increase in devolution funds.

During the session, party members also agreed to strengthen ODM ahead of any potential coalition arrangements.

This marks Dr. Oburu’s first PG meeting since his appointment as party leader following the death of his brother, Raila Odinga.

The meeting comes amid internal divisions within ODM, which have seen the party split along ideological lines.

One faction, the Linda Mwananchi movement led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, supports the ‘one term’ narrative. The opposing Linda Ground faction, aligned with Oburu, backs a broad-based arrangement and is pushing for a coalition with the ruling party.

Attention now shifts to the upcoming NDC, which is expected to determine whether the Sifuna-led faction will participate and shape the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 elections.