East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga has thrown a spanner in the works of the looming UDA-ODM political marriage. In a blistering critique, she has warned the Orange party against rushing into a formal coalition with President William Ruto’s government before the delivery of the "10-Point Agenda."

Speaking exclusively in Nairobi, the fiery legislator argued that the political "romance" between the two parties is premature and potentially deceptive. Her intervention comes as whisper campaigns about a pre-election pact for 2027 intensify, threatening to split the opposition party down the middle.

The March 7 Ultimatum

Winnie Odinga’s skepticism is anchored in the "10-Point Agenda," a cooperation framework agreed upon by her late father, Raila Odinga, and President Ruto. According to Winnie, this agreement has a strict expiry date: March 7, 2026. She argues that any talk of a coalition before this date is tantamount to political betrayal.

"The 10-Point Agenda was promulgated on August 26, 2024," she reminded the party faithful. "It states clearly that this is not a coalition agreement. If you trash it and haven’t completed it, on what basis are you negotiating for the people of Kenya? We must see the scorecard first."

A Party at a Crossroads

The debate has exposed deep fissures within ODM. On one side are the pragmatists, led by acting Party Leader Dr. Oburu Oginga, who view cooperation with the government as a necessary stabilizer for the nation. On the other are the purists, like Winnie, who fear the party is being swallowed whole by the UDA machine.

• Coercion Allegations: Winnie dropped a bombshell allegation that ODM members are being "whipped" and coerced into declaring loyalty to the current regime, undermining internal democracy.
• The Leadership Vacuum: She reiterated that Dr. Oburu Oginga remains the acting party leader until ratified by the National Delegates Convention (NDC), a subtle warning against unilateral decision-making.
• The 2027 Calculus: With the next general election looming, the rush to merge is seen by critics as a survival tactic for politicians rather than a strategic move for the electorate.

The Ghost of the Handshake

Winnie’s stance resonates with a base that is wary of "handshake" deals that often demobilize the opposition without delivering tangible reforms. By invoking her father’s legacy and the specific terms of the 10-point deal, she is positioning herself as the guardian of the party’s soul.

"He was not a duplicitous leader," she said of Raila Odinga. "He did not say something in the morning and try something else at night." As the March deadline approaches, President Ruto’s team will have to show their hand: have they delivered on the agenda, or was it just a bridge to a takeover?