By Anderson Ojwang
Kenya’s oldest opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing an unprecedented future over differing political positions and realignments.
This has subsequently led to the emergence of three camps in the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga led party, that had in the past withered various political storms to remain one of the leading parties in the country.
The inside party wars could be reminiscence of the Ford-K battle that pitted Raila against then Ugenya MP James Orengo over the party vice chairman position, which the former won while latter was thrown to the political oblivion until after the duo reconciled and became political allies once more.
ODM boast of being the party with national outlook and networks all over the country after being existence for the last 20 years and has presented presidential candidate in the last four elections of 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022.
The declaration by the then party leader, Raila that he was shifting his political base from Kenya and venturing into the battle for African Union (AU) chairperson seat, triggered a political moment and realignment in the party.
The decision culminated into the appointment of Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o as the interim party leader while his counterpart Gladys Wanga was appointed the national chairperson.
Siaya Governor James Orengo had earlier lobbied for the post of the party leader but was knocked off the race after Raila proposed Nyong’o for the seat, prematurely nipping off the would be battle royale.
Currently two vocal camps have emerged and pits Wanga against Orengo while the third faction is that of the let’s wait and see what happens as the two fight over.
Wanga supports the party working with President William Ruto and favors a possible future coalition with the president’s UDA party in the 2027 general election.
Orengo is opposed to the party working with President Ruto and any possible future coalition with UDA. He is seen to be leaning towards a possible alliance between the Murima and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka coalition.
Wanga enjoys the support of most of the MPs and those behind her are Kasipul MP Ongonde Were. Junet Mohammed and Alego MP Sam Atandi among others.
The MPs opposed to Orengo accuse him of allegedly betraying his former allies and is never available when needed while for Wanga they accuse her of dumping those who supported her in the last general elections and being over-ambitious.
They claim currently, Orengo has lost the support of Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, Atandi and his deputy William Oduol in Siaya and only has the support of Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo.
In the ODM leadership hierarchy Orengo is being supported by the party secretary Edwin Sifuna who has recently been seen with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka in some functions.
Siaya senator Dr Oburu Odinga is said to favor Energy Minister Opiyo Wandayi as the possible leader of the community and that is why a section of members of county assembly from Siaya recently threw their support behind Wandayi.
The MCAs led by the leader of Majority in Siaya assembly Mr. Edwin Martin Otieno criticized a section of leaders from Nyanza who are opposed to President Ruto.
“Ruto supported Raila to become the prime minister. Currently he has appointed some of our leaders into the government. It is unfortunate that some leaders want to bring village politics to undermine development we are currently witnessing. We must call them out,” he said.
Sources intimated to the writer that ODM office is becoming ‘a no go zone’ to some of the officials who have been earmarked as ‘ a nuisance and disturbance‘ to the party unity and development.
“Some of these officials shouting loudest will soon be coming to ODM offices. We have been infiltrated by enemies and we know how best to deal with the sell outs,” said our sources.
Raila has not indicated which side of the faction he supports as he has been committed in his campaigns and this has escalated the wars in the party.
Wanga has maintained in the recent functions that the party was rightfully working with the government and that they will not engage in streets demonstrations and demonizing of the government ‘
“Jakom, a time like this last year, we were on the streets protesting for a better Kenya but we were told that we are destroying the country’s economy and that we should desist from demos.
They wondered and asked why we are ever protesting. Now they are asking why Raila is quite, they are asking why Wanga is silent.
I want to tell them, we are not going to the streets. We are not going for any demos, We are not going to talk. Jakom remain quite.
We did our part. I even challenged the police to shoot me those days. Where were they? Our people were killed then and they kept their silence.
Let them go to the streets. Let them pick from where we left. We cannot afford to be a protesting community all the time.
This time as community, we are not going to the streets. We are supporting the government of the day to deliver on its mandate.
We will support the leader who wants to unite Kenya and distribute the national cake equitably.
It is time we concentrated on development and tap from the opportunities the government us bringing on our way. We have been marginalized for a long time,” she said.
The Secretary General Mr. Edwin Sifuna told Raila that all is not well and that when he criticizes the government he is told that he is destroying Raila’s votes for African Union chairperson seat.
“I want to say here, that when some of our members are busy drinking milk in the government but do not want us to point out the bad things in the government. As your secretary general , I will not hesitate to point out the wrongs in the government.
I will ensure that party remains to the ideals that it was founded on and I will follow the guidelines you gave to me.
Let those who are enjoying honey from the government do so on their own accord but as a party I will not hesitate to point out the ills.
This party is a beacon of hope for the people and we must fight for them. As the secretary-general of your party, if you go to AUC and whether you win or lose, I will hand the party back to you intact, just as you gave it to me. There are people telling me not to speak out about the excesses of this government because I am interfering with your bid,” he said.
Orengo has constantly said it was wrong for ODM to compromise its ideals for cheap gains that would be dangerous at the end of the game.
“On my part, I want my conscience to be clear. I want to say no to abduction. Again, I want to say there is too much sycophancy in the party at the moment.
I James Orengo, the stone, Nyawawa. I fear nothing. I want to say the luo as community must not lose their identity they are known for. We have identity that we are known for.
If we make compromises, they should be justified before God. We cannot suspend the constitution. We may be happy now but in future, we may regret.
I pray for ODM you can stand any storm. If you make compromises but it should be based on principle and not praise and worship. We must stand firm and leave by constitution,” he said.
