Ruto, Oburu preside over joint parliamentary group meeting in Naivasha

President William Ruto and ODM party leader Oburu Oginga are presiding over a joint broad-based parliamentary group meeting in Naivasha, Nakuru county.

The meeting is being attended by government-allied members of both the Senate and the National Assembly drawn from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

More than 250 MPs and 45 senators are attending the meeting, which brings together legislators from across the political divide.

Also present are members of the Executive, including the Attorney General, Cabinet secretaries, broad-based government governors, parliamentary leadership and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

The retreat provides an opportunity for the political leadership to reflect on the progress of the broad-based government, strengthen unity and align efforts towards advancing its agenda and delivering on the aspirations of Kenyans.

The meeting also offers leaders an opportunity to take stock of the government's performance and identify areas requiring greater attention during the remaining period of the administration's first term.

Coming exactly a year before the August 10, 2027 General Election, the meeting also provides a platform for the broad-based government to align its legislative agenda with the electoral calendar and identify policies requiring enactment before the end of the administration's term.

Ruto and Oburu are also expected to use the forum to rally MPs from both sides to prioritise the development agenda and strategise on how to counter perceived growing opposition wave ahead of the elections.

The meeting comes amid shifting political alliances and intensified jostling for strategic positioning ahead of the post-election period, adding to its significance for leaders who will not be seeking re-election because of constitutional term limits

As we look ahead, Your Excellency, we are conscious that the political environment will become increasingly demanding as we approach next year's elections. Elections are an important part of democracy, but they must never become a source of division that undermines the progress we have made as a country," host Governor Susan Kihika said in her welcoming remarks.

The broad-based government was formed after former ODM leader Raila Odinga entered into a working partnership with Ruto on March 7, 2025.

Ruto asked the leaders present at the meeting to observe a minute of silence in honour of Odinga.

The former Prime Minister died on October 15, 2025, leading to a change of guard at the helm of ODM, with his brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, taking over leadership of the Orange party.

Ruto said the broad-based government had since expanded since it welcomed on board the initial constituent parties, including Chama Cha Kazi and UDM.

"Four years ago, we were very serious competitors and we went into the elections with different plans but converging manifestos," Ruto said, pointing to what he described as the like-mindedness of the parties.

The President said the broad-based government was now the largest political unit in the country, second only to the grand coalition government formed after the 2007-08 post-election crisis.

"Today, we are going to have a very candid conversation with no notes because we want to have a heart-to-heart candid conversation about where we were, what we have done with the last four years, initially as Kenya Kwanza, subsequently as broad-based government," he said.