Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has thrown a spanner into the works of the burgeoning UDA-ODM courtship. In a blunt warning to her party’s top brass, she has demanded a halt to rushed coalition talks, insisting the party must listen to its base first.

Her comments come as a corrective slap to the frenzied speculation that a merger is imminent. Ruth, a seasoned political operative and sister to the late premier, argues that stampeding into a marriage with the ruling party without housekeeping is a recipe for political suicide. "2027 is going nowhere," she declared, urging patience.

"Listen to the Youth"

Ruth’s intervention is partly a response to the growing restlessness among the party’s "Gen Z" base, who feel alienated by the boardroom deals. She acknowledged that the youth unrest is not indiscipline, but a cry for inclusion.

• The Warning: "We cannot bind the party to a marriage before we have dated," she metaphorically argued, calling for Town Hall meetings from Turkana to Kwale.
• The Family Stance: She firmly dismissed rumors of a rift within the Odinga family, stating they remain united despite the high-stakes pressure to align with the government.
• The Strategy: Her call is for a grassroots-first approach, prioritizing the "movement" aspect of ODM over the "machine" aspect of coalition building.

The Cost of Haste

Ruth’s caution is rooted in history. ODM has survived by being the voice of the marginalized, not an appendage of the state. By rushing into bed with the UDA, she fears the party risks losing its identity and its bargaining power.

"If we rush, we will be swallowed," she implied. It is a sober warning from a leader who knows that in Kenyan politics, he who rides the tiger often ends up inside it.