President William Ruto and senior leaders from the Broad-Based Coalition convened in Naivasha, Nakuru County, on Monday for a joint Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting that brought together governors, senators and Members of Parliament to discuss the coalition’s legislative priorities and policy agenda.
The meeting, co-chaired by President Ruto and ODM Party Leader and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, marked one of the coalition’s most significant consultative forums since the formation of the working arrangement between Kenya Kwanza and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Also in attendance were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Cabinet Secretaries, governors, senators and lawmakers drawn from both sides of the coalition, with discussions focusing on governance, implementation of development programmes and coordination between the Executive and Parliament.
Addressing the leaders, President Ruto said the meeting was intended to strengthen cooperation in advancing legislation and implementing government programmes aimed at improving service delivery across the country.
“Our responsibility is to work together in ensuring that Parliament supports policies and legislation that accelerate development and improve the lives of Kenyans. This partnership is about delivering results for the people,” President Ruto said.
The President urged coalition legislators to remain united in supporting the government’s reform agenda, saying collaboration between national and county leaders was critical to achieving sustainable economic growth and effective implementation of public projects.
Oburu Odinga, who represented ODM at the meeting, said the broad-based coalition was founded on the need to pursue national interests through dialogue and cooperation rather than political confrontation.
“This engagement is about identifying common priorities that benefit the country. We have a responsibility to work together where there is consensus in the interest of Kenyans,” Oburu said.
According to leaders present, the retreat reviewed a number of legislative proposals expected to be tabled when Parliament resumes its sittings. Discussions also covered the implementation of development projects, economic reforms, devolution, budget priorities and strategies for strengthening cooperation between the national and county governments.
The inclusion of governors and senators reflected the coalition’s intention to align legislative action with county development priorities, particularly on issues affecting healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and equitable resource allocation.
The Naivasha meeting comes as the broad-based coalition continues to shape Kenya’s political landscape following ODM’s decision to work with President Ruto’s administration on selected national priorities. The arrangement has enabled lawmakers from both political formations to jointly support several government-sponsored Bills and policy initiatives while retaining their respective party structures.
Political observers view the continued parliamentary engagements as an effort to consolidate the coalition’s legislative numbers and maintain consensus on key government programmes ahead of upcoming parliamentary sessions.
The retreat also provided an opportunity for legislators to assess the implementation of previous resolutions and identify areas requiring closer coordination between the Executive, Parliament and county governments.
While no major policy announcements were made immediately after the meeting, leaders indicated that the consultations would inform the coalition’s approach to pending legislation and national development priorities in the coming months.
The Naivasha gathering underscores the increasingly institutionalised cooperation between Kenya Kwanza and ODM, with the two sides continuing to use joint parliamentary forums to coordinate their legislative agenda and strengthen political collaboration on issues they describe as being of national importance.