Winnie Odinga, EALA MP and daughter of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga, has alleged that certain party members are secretly plotting to sell the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The claims came during the ODM@20 celebrations in Mombasa, which marked the party’s 20th anniversary and commemorated Raila Odinga’s legacy.
Speaking to party supporters and leaders, Winnie warned that the orchestrators were working behind closed doors, potentially taking advantage of the party’s internal divisions over whether to continue collaborating with the Kenya Kwanza administration or chart an independent course ahead of the 2027 general elections. She, however, did not provide specific details about the alleged plotters.
“ODM is not a party that was secretly birthed. I am informed that there are some of us who are walking with us during the day, but at night are hatching plans to sell our party. That will not be possible; the party was not born in a boardroom,” Winnie said. She emphasized that ODM was “born out of protest, made in resistance, and the people of ODM have bled time and again and shed tears for this country, Kenya.”
The political stakes were evident as other party leaders addressed the party’s future. Siaya Governor James Orengo criticized ODM members collaborating with President William Ruto’s administration, describing the move as “cowardly.” He asserted that ODM should remain a stand-alone party and stressed that it is Ruto who needs ODM, not the other way around.
Former ODM deputy leader and Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Hassan Joho, urged party leadership to regulate statements, allowing only legally recognized party organs to speak on ODM’s official positions. Meanwhile, Secretary General Edwin Sifuna reiterated that the party would not blindly support the government and affirmed that ODM is preparing to field a presidential candidate in 2027.
As ODM navigates internal debates and future alliances, Winnie Odinga’s remarks underscore the tension between party loyalty and political maneuvering, reflecting the high stakes ahead of Kenya’s next general elections.
