NAIROBI, Kenya – The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is going through significant internal divisions as a result of the late party leader Raila Odinga’s absence.
In opposition to the party’s conventional position, Oburu Oginga’s faction is advocating for a partnership with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Without Raila’s leadership, today’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) represents a turning point that might change the political course of ODM.
On the other hand, dissident ODM members led by embattled Secretary General Edwin Sifuna are opposed to this shift.
While Oburu’s faction, dubbed Linda Ground, holds its Special Delegates Convention (SDC) at the ASK Jamhuri Grounds, the Sifuna camp (Linda Mwananchi) is scheduled to hold a parallel event at Ufungamano House.
Changes in the party leadership are expected to be made today, with the Linda Mwananchi faction pushing on despite the internal wrangles.
“We want to remove the party from the hyenas who have taken it,” said Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, a close ally of Sifuna.
However, on the other hand, ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga said, “We have been through a difficult path; we have had a rough patch with the loss of Baba, and we are steadying the ship. Trust us to steady it.”
What is the intention of the ODM party?
Wanga insists that ODM will move into next year and form a government in the coming election, which she argues is the intention of any political party.
“I want to ask our members, especially in the grassroots, to hold on there; let’s work hard, let’s work to retain our seats, and let’s work to gain more seats. Let’s work to solidify the party and keep the party as the largest party south of the Sahara and north of the Limpopo,” she added.
MP Amisi, a member of the Linda Mwananchi faction, disclosed that the Sifuna-led group will call for an NDC, then call for an election and put a new lineup for leadership.
“I can assure you that by doing so, we are going to take over the party,” stated Amisi.
Political and governance analyst Hezborn Owilla observed that the Linda Mwananchi tempo is going to be diminished.
“They will have to find a new footing. Oburu’s work is cut out. His role is not to accommodate everyone but to steer the party,” said Owilla.
Abdulswamad Sharrif weighs in on the crisis
ODM deputy party leader Abdulswamad Sharrif claimed that there are people out there who wish for the Orange party to be weakened.
“We know there are people out there who are going out of their way to try to burn this house down. At the end of the day, you do not burn a house that is made of ice by using extra ice. We have survived everything else. What else is there?” posed the Mombasa governor.
However, MP Amisi maintains that there is a need to preserve Raila’s legacy.
“Raila should not have been imprisoned for seven years fighting for governance. He came out of prison, he was exiled, he became a political prisoner, he came back and went back to the streets fighting multipartism and fighting for a new constitutional order,” argued Amisi.
Wanga, the Homa Bay governor, denied claims that the party had chased Sifuna away.
“The truth of the matter is, we did not chase anybody from the party; we only said it is no longer tenable for you to speak on our behalf because when we are going in direction X, you speak in direction Y. Many said it is because he is opposing the President. We said no; we could be opposing the president, and he is supporting, and if the party decides that we are opposing, our spokesperson must say we are opposing, even if he is supporting. The president’s hand is not in this,” she added.
The Sifuna-Babu Owino factor within ODM
According to Governor Wanga, Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino are members of the NDC.
“Sifuna, by virtue of being a Senator of Nairobi, is a delegate at that NDC. Babu, by virtue of being a member of NEC and also MP for Embakasi, is a delegate at that NDC.
They are not necessarily going to storm; they can attend the NDC, and we hope they will attend the NDC,” she said.
Owilla further observed that it is incumbent that Oburu understands that he needs to manage the crisis with sobriety.
“Oburu, the current ODM party leader, needs to know that there are emerging new political leaders who should not be wished away,” added Owilla.
Why Raila Odinga’s legacy matters to ODM
Meanwhile, MP Amisi stated that Raila has been in and out of government and back to the streets.
“Raila has chewed enough tear gas; he has almost died in the streets; he has lost enough of his supporters; he has had limited time with his family, fighting for the nation, and then all of a sudden you leave that legacy to be taken by other people who never believed in his principles,” added the second-term MP.
In reaction to the contentious Kenyan constitutional referendum, ODM was established in 2005 as a political alliance.
It came about as a result of a grassroots campaign that brought together different opposition organisations and members of civil society to oppose the proposed constitution.
ODM swiftly rose to prominence in politics by promoting democratic changes, more accountability, and openness.
Its creation signalled a sea change in Kenyan politics, establishing the groundwork for upcoming electoral alliances and influencing the country’s conversation about governance.
However, this current fracture highlights a power struggle over ODM’s future direction amid shifting political alliances in Kenya’s evolving landscape.
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