President William Ruto’s re‑election campaign faces a new challenge after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) publicly insisted that any coalition with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) must include a 50‑50 power‑sharing arrangement.

ODM leaders say the demand covers the deputy presidency, senior cabinet posts, parliamentary leadership, electoral nominations and broader decision‑making authority, extending beyond routine cabinet allocations.

Oburu Oginga, ODM’s deputy chair, reiterated the stance in June 2026, stating the party will negotiate on every seat and will not leave any position unaddressed.

ODM chair Gladys Wanga added that the party’s 2027 arrangement with Ruto must secure the deputy president’s office and protect ODM’s strongholds through zoning, while warning that the coalition will not surrender those areas.

The UDA has so far resisted zoning proposals, according to reports on the ongoing talks, indicating a potential point of contention in the negotiations.

Amid the rising tension, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo urged unconditional support for Ruto from the Nyanza region, a comment that prompted a response from ODM deputy chair Abdulswamad Sharrif Nassir, who affirmed the party’s demand for the deputy presidency.

In an effort to manage the dispute, the UDA announced the formation of a joint manifesto committee, which will use the Bottom‑Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) as a foundation for the 2027 election platform.