Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended President William Ruto amid disagreements within ODM over a possible political partnership with UDA ahead of the 2027 General Election.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended President William Ruto, saying the Head of State means well for all Kenyans as political divisions continue to emerge within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over its proposed partnership with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Mbadi urged ODM members to stop publicly debating the terms of the negotiations, insisting that the party’s leadership should be allowed to handle discussions with Ruto’s political camp.
The Cabinet Secretary made the remarks on Sunday, November 1, 2026, during an empowerment event for women’s groups in Masaba Ward, Kuria West Constituency, Migori County.
His comments come as ODM leaders continue to differ over whether the party should support Ruto’s re-election in 2027 without conditions or first secure a formal agreement guaranteeing its political interests.
Mbadi says Ruto means well for all Kenyans
Mbadi dismissed suggestions that Ruto’s political engagement with ODM should be viewed only through the interests of the Luo community.
He argued that the President’s leadership and development agenda were intended to benefit the entire country.
The Treasury CS said the proposed political partnership should be approached as a national arrangement rather than a deal focused on one community.
His remarks come amid growing debate within ODM over the party’s position in the next presidential election and what it expects to gain from working with UDA.
ODM and UDA already holding negotiations
Mbadi confirmed that representatives from the two political parties were already involved in discussions on a possible structured agreement.
He disclosed that the negotiating process involved separate teams handling policy issues and the proposed structure of government.
According to Mbadi, one team comprising 10 members was working on policy matters, while another technical team was considering the structure of a possible government arrangement.
He argued that political parties seeking to work together during an election must establish clear agreements rather than rely on informal understandings.
Mbadi maintained that a structured arrangement would be necessary if ODM and UDA intended to pursue a joint political path towards the 2027 General Election.
Mbadi urges ODM members to stop public disagreements
The Cabinet Secretary also criticised continued public debate among ODM members over whether the party should support Ruto unconditionally or make demands before entering a political arrangement.
He said the party leadership had already taken responsibility for the negotiations and should be given room to complete the process.
Mbadi’s position reflects the view among some ODM leaders that public disagreements could weaken the party’s negotiating position.
However, other senior politicians have insisted that members and supporters have a legitimate interest in knowing what the party intends to secure from any proposed partnership.
ODM divided over a written agreement
The negotiations have exposed differences within ODM over the best way to approach a possible political deal with Ruto.
Some leaders argue that the party should cooperate with the President based on the government’s development agenda and the political goodwill demonstrated so far.
Others insist that ODM must secure a written and binding agreement before committing its support to Ruto’s re-election campaign.
The debate has also involved questions about power-sharing arrangements, senior government positions and the implementation of commitments previously discussed between political leaders.
ODM party leader Oburu Oginga has maintained that the party should not enter an arrangement blindly, while other officials have called for clear guarantees.
The disagreement is particularly significant because ODM has historically maintained an independent political identity and fielded its own presidential candidates.
What the negotiations could mean for 2027
A possible ODM-UDA partnership could significantly influence the political landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election.
For UDA, cooperation with ODM could strengthen its national political support and help build a broader electoral coalition.
For ODM, negotiations provide an opportunity to seek representation in government while retaining its party structures and political identity.
However, the parties must still agree on the terms of cooperation, the distribution of responsibilities and the extent to which ODM would support Ruto’s re-election campaign.
The final outcome could also influence opposition politics, particularly if other political leaders attempt to establish alternative alliances.
Conclusion
Mbadi has defended President Ruto and urged ODM members to allow party leaders to negotiate with UDA without continued public disagreements. As discussions continue, the central question remains whether the two parties can reach a formal agreement that satisfies their political interests before the 2027 elections.
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