Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has refuted claims that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has entered into a coalition agreement with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government.
Speaking during an interview on NTV on Monday, October 27, 2025, Nassir clarified that there is no formal political pact between the two sides. He emphasized that ODM’s current engagement with the national government is based purely on cooperation over key national issues, not political alignment.
“We actually do not have a coalition agreement. We never signed a coalition agreement. We never signed anything else,” said Nassir.
According to the governor, ODM’s collaboration with the Kenya Kwanza administration focuses on policy priorities meant to address pressing issues facing Kenyans. He explained that the party identified ten key areas of concern and agreed to work with the government to ensure their implementation for the benefit of citizens.
“We have an agreement that there are 10 issues affecting Kenyans. We listed them, sat down, and said, let’s implement these issues,” he added.
Nassir’s remarks come amid widespread speculation that ODM could be seeking a political partnership with Kenya Kwanza ahead of the 2027 General Election. The speculation follows several meetings between ODM leaders and government officials, sparking rumors of a possible coalition.
However, Nassir maintained that ODM’s involvement is strictly guided by national interest rather than political expediency or power-sharing arrangements.
“There’s no political party in the world that gets formed for the purpose of being in the opposition,” he remarked, noting that ODM’s participation in national dialogue reflects its commitment to progress, not political deals.
As ODM charts its course following the passing of its long-time leader Raila Odinga, Nassir underscored that the party remains united and focused on continuity, ensuring that Odinga’s legacy of reform and inclusivity endures.
