“We Will Not Laugh with Thieves”: ODM to Stay in Broad-Based Government Until 202

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party Leader Simba Arati has affirmed that the party will remain part of Kenya’s broad-based government until 2027. Speaking at an evening rally in Nakuru, Arati urged members to uphold accountability and integrity, even while engaging with the government. “We have said that we will remain in a broad-based [government] until 2027; everyone should plan themselves going forward,” he said.

Arati made it clear that ODM’s involvement does not mean joining the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition. The party has only seconded professionals to the government while retaining its independence. “Going forward, there are people we will not laugh with. Young people, do you want us to laugh with thieves? We must protect this country with our status and wealth. We must reject corruption, even if we are in that broad-based government; justice must be done to every Kenyan,” he emphasized.

He stressed that ODM is committed to defending justice and transparency. “Nakuru, you know that we in ODM have rejected the theft of public property, because our children who are growing up will not find a country,” he added. Arati also condemned killings and human rights abuses, promising that the party will not tolerate violations while in government.

This stance follows guidance from ODM’s Central Management Committee in October 2025, which confirmed the party’s plan to remain in the broad-based government, a framework initiated by President William Ruto and the late Raila Odinga. Arati’s remarks come amid debate within ODM over the arrangement, with some members seeing it as a path to national unity, while others fear it could weaken the party’s identity ahead of the 2027 elections.

At a memorial service for the late Raila Odinga in Homa Bay, ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga defended the decision, saying the party was following Odinga’s legacy. “We are in broad-based to stay because that is where Raila Odinga left us. In 2027, we are either the government or in the coalition that forms the government,” Wanga said, underscoring ODM’s commitment to national service and core political values.

Through its continued participation, ODM aims to balance governance responsibilities with accountability, ensuring its principles remain intact while contributing to national stability.