{
  "id": 9908733,
  "title": "Omanyo: ODM will field our own candidate to face Ruto if we don’t agree with UDA",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/omanyo-odm-will-field-our-own-candidate-to-face-ruto-if-we-dont-agree",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T04:47:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "People Daily Kenya",
    "slug": "people-daily-kenya",
    "url": "https://peopledaily.digital/inside-politics/omanyo-odm-will-field-our-own-candidate-to-face-ruto-if-we-dont-agree-with-uda"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Catherine Omanyo has stated that if the party cannot reach an agreement with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 general election, they will field their own candidate for the presidency. Speaking in an interview on September 26, 2026, Omanyo emphasized that even if they do not form the government, ODM remains a formidable force and will still play a significant role. \"Mazungumuzo ya spoiva? Nam. Yasipoiva, itabidi tuweke Rais wetu. Sasa yasipoiva, sasa kila mtu ataweka. Lakini kwa sasa, jinsi tunaendelea, sioni watu wakigongana gongana. Lakini ni ile tulikuwa tumezoea kufanya after, post?\" she said.\n\nThis follows the recent defense of ODM's coalition talks by party leader Oburu Oginga, who stated that the process is deliberate and will be finalized before the end of 2026. During the ODM Women Empowerment Programme in Nyando, Kisumu County on July 4, 2026, Oburu addressed critics who questioned the slow pace of negotiations. He dismissed claims of sluggishness, emphasizing that the party still has ample time to conclude the arrangements before the 2027 election in August. Oburu explained that ODM is being cautious to avoid prematurely revealing their political strategy, which could give opponents an advantage. \"I’m not too slow. The election is next year in August next year. We still have more than one year to go,\" he reassured. ODM plans to finalize all key decisions by the end of the year, ensuring they remain a strong contender in the upcoming election.",
  "summary": "Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary General Catherine Omanyo has intimated that if the party fails to reach an agreement with the United Democratic Alliance during pre-election talks, it will field its own presidential candidate. Speaking in an interview with a local media station aired on Friday, September 26, 2026, the outspoken businesswoman and MP said […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Omanyo maintains ODM is still a strong force even without government.",
    "UDA coalition talks are ongoing, aimed to be finalized before end of 2026."
  ],
  "editors_take": "ODM's threat to field its own presidential candidate signals a potential rift with UDA and underscores the party's determination to remain a significant force in the 2027 general election.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}