- Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga issued a stern warning to ODM members considering defecting to Rigathi Gachagua's opposition camp
- Wanga insisted the broad-based coalition is well-placed to win the 2027 General Election, making any defection unnecessary
- The ODM National Chairperson has been rallying party members to remain united behind the coalition's arrangement with President Ruto
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Amos Khaemba is a Current Affairs Editor at TUKO.co.ke, covering political and world news. Khaemba has over four years of journalism experience and joined TUKO.co.ke in 2022.
Homa Bay Governor and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has cautioned party members against crossing over to former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua's opposition camp, arguing that the broad-based coalition is on course to win the 2027 General Election.
Speaking to ODM supporters on Wednesday, October 21, Wanga urged them not to be tempted into abandoning the current government arrangement in the hope of returning to power through the opposition after next year's polls.
"Our people must not be swayed to leave the government in the hope of rejoining it after next year's elections. The Broad-Based Coalition will win the election next year, and so we don't have any business joining Gachagua and the opposition," Wanga said in Kanyaluo after commissioning a rural water supply scheme targeting the area.
Wanga pushes for ODM unity
Wanga has been one of the most vocal defenders of ODM's decision to cooperate with President William Ruto's administration, consistently arguing the arrangement advances the party's agenda while laying the groundwork for a strong electoral showing.
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In July 2026, she expressed confidence that a proposed electoral alliance between ODM and Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) could attract a combined vote of 17 million, and called on members to remain behind the partnership.
The ODM chairperson has also previously stated that the party made a deliberate choice to work within government rather than resort to street protests, a stance she reiterated in May.
ODM's strategy heading into 2027
The broad-based arrangement has become the defining issue in ODM's political positioning, with party leadership backing cooperation with the Ruto administration while simultaneously organising for the general election.
Wanga has clarified that working alongside UDA does not mean ODM is surrendering its independent identity or stepping back from elective contests in 2027.
Gachagua, who now leads the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), is among the opposition figures seeking to mount a serious challenge to the broad-based camp.
Wanga's remarks draw a clear boundary between ODM's chosen direction and the political alliance she is urging members to avoid.
As political negotiations and realignments gather pace ahead of the polls, the broad-based coalition faces the task of converting its partnership into a cohesive electoral campaign, while the opposition works to build a credible alternative.
For Wanga, the message to ODM's rank and file is unambiguous: hold the line, and stay within the broad-based arrangement.
Source: TUKO.co.ke