Ruto Announces Rare Joint Meeting Between Kenya Kwanza and ODM MPs on August 18

Lawmakers from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) are set to meet next week to discuss closer cooperation. 

The meeting, confirmed by President William Ruto, will take place on Monday, August 18, and is aimed at forging a unified approach to the country’s pressing economic and social challenges. The talks mark a notable shift from the traditionally adversarial relationship between the two dominant parties. Speaking during a visit to Migori, President Ruto said both UDA and ODM are committed to building an inclusive governance model that serves all Kenyans. 

He noted that the discussions would focus on developing policies to strengthen national revenue and suggested that shared economic priorities could bridge past political divides. The President also hinted at possible constitutional or legal reforms to support national cohesion and speed up development.

However, progress towards collaboration has faced challenges. A ten-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in March, outlined plans to address key issues such as youth protection and economic empowerment. Its implementation has been slow, with ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna citing the lack of a formal oversight mechanism as a major obstacle. 

To address this, the two parties are forming a joint technical committee of five members to oversee the MoU’s rollout and resolve pending issues from the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report. ODM’s concerns, particularly the protection of the right to peaceful assembly and the creation of effective youth-focused policies, are expected to be central to the talks.