Siaya Governor James Orengo has cautioned the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) against merging with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) under the guise of promoting national unity.
Speaking in Bondo at the home of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga, Orengo urged party members to protect the independence of ODM even as it maintains a working relationship with UDA. “Sisi kama ODM, msifanye makosa ya kumezwa (As ODM, let’s not make the mistake of being swallowed),” he said.
The governor emphasized that political parties are essential to democracy and warned that merging with the ruling party could lead to ODM’s collapse. He cited past political alliances that destroyed parties such as Kadu, PNU, and the original Democratic Party.
“Let us not kill political parties. In a strong Kenya to come, we need a strong Wiper and a strong ODM — not controlled by anybody in power, but guided by the laws of the land,” Orengo stated.
Orengo made the remarks when he joined a delegation of Nyanza leaders in welcoming Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to Raila’s Opoda Farm in Bondo, where Kalonzo presented 100 head of cattle to the Odinga family in honour of his late ally.
Raila’s death on October 15 has triggered debate over ODM’s direction. One faction supports continued cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration, in line with Raila’s March 7 framework agreement. Another faction, led by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, insists the party should chart its own path and field a presidential candidate in 2027.
Acting ODM leader Oburu Odinga and other senior officials, however, maintain that Raila envisioned ongoing collaboration with the government. “We will never be in opposition again as the ODM party. We will form or be part of the government,” Oburu affirmed.
As ODM navigates this critical transition, Orengo’s warning underscores the growing tension between preserving the party’s legacy and adapting to Kenya’s shifting political landscape.
