By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 10 August 2026 - President William Ruto has announced that Kenya Kwanza and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have begun formal preparations for a joint 2027 election campaign by appointing a team to draft a common manifesto.
The move marks the first formal step towards transforming the broad-based government into an electoral alliance ahead of next year's General Election.
Speaking during the Broad-Based Government Principal Group media briefing in Naivasha on Monday, Ruto said consultations within both political formations had culminated in an agreement to contest the 2027 elections as a coalition.
"After consultations within our respective parties and formations, the Kenya Kwanza and the Orange Democratic Movement have today formally resolved to develop a joint manifesto for the next election and constitute a coalition to contest the 2027 General Election," Ruto said.
To spearhead the process, the two parties unveiled a 10-member joint committee comprising five representatives from each side, with the Executive Directors of ODM and UDA serving as ex-officio members.
ODM nominated Isaac Waluke, Mariam Abdullahi Mbaruk, Leonida Kerubo Omosa, Kari Orege and Professor Bernard Muok, while Kenya Kwanza named Emmanuel Nzai, Dr Daniel Mwai, Bramwell Simiyu, Mohammed Hassan and Dr Cecilia Ng'etich.
Ruto said the committee's mandate extends beyond writing a political document, explaining that the manifesto will reflect shared priorities while incorporating proposals from Kenyans gathered through the ongoing Kenya Beyond Vision 2030 national dialogue.
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"Their task is not simply to produce a political document. The manifesto will draw from our shared values and priorities while being informed by the aspirations, ideas and priorities expressed by Kenyans," he said.
The President said the coalition aims to build on reforms initiated under the broad-based government and present voters with a common development agenda ahead of the August 2027 polls.
The announcement formally cements the political partnership between Kenya Kwanza and ODM, which began through cooperation in government and has increasingly seen leaders from both parties appear together at official and political engagements.
The joint manifesto team is expected to begin consultations as the two parties work towards unveiling a unified platform before the 2027 General Election.
Ruto, ODM Begin Writing Joint 2027 Manifesto as Coalition Takes Shape
The President said the coalition aims to build on reforms initiated under the broad-based government and present voters with a common development agenda