By Anderson Ojwang
Two decades after its formation and the scheduled 20th anniversary celebration, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is currently facing an identity crisis and a stormy moment.
The situation has been worsened by the death of the party leader, Raila Odinga, the glue that held the party together. With the appointment of Dr Oburu Oginga as the acting party leader, the slide is gaining momentum.
Oburu, the Siaya Senator, is one of the key architects of the broad-based government that brought together President William Ruto and Raila during the Gen Z demonstrations.
Oburu, the negotiator, now finds himself in the mix and must wriggle himself out to steady the ship and not preside over the death of his younger brother’s party.
At the weekend, a section of ODM party officials and members read from different scripts on the joint parliamentary candidates for the by-election.
While Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga viewed the parliamentary candidates as broad-based candidates, the other camp, led by ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Deputy Organising Secretary Ruth Odinga, said the candidates must identify with the ODM party.
Interestingly, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o and his Siaya counterpart, James Orengo, have remained tight-lipped on the ongoing issues in the party.
Nyong’o was appointed the acting party leader last year when Raila contested for the African Union (AU) chairperson seat, but later handed over the seat to Raila after he failed in his bid.
Orengo was previously opposed to the broad-based government but was boxed into supporting the alliance, and with the demise of Raila, he has maintained his stealth silence.
Wanga said “We have agreed as a broad-based team where we have a UDA candidate; that is the broad-based candidate. In Malava, Kasipul, Magarini, and Ugunja.”
But in a swift rejoinder, Sifuna said “Baba told us to keep our identity. My party is ODM and the symbol is orange. We must keep that identity.
Some people are telling us that the by-elections for this November have candidates for the broad-based. Broad-based is not a political party. Because it is not a political party, it doesn’t have candidates.
You people have worked hard to secure votes and there are voters who walk to the polling station without knowing the name of the candidate but only know the party.
There are those who go to vote because of Baba and the chungwa symbol. I want to vote for the orange candidate.
Kindly tell me which is the colour and symbol of the broad-based, so that when a voter comes and says he wants to vote for a broad-based candidate, where do you take him?
We don’t have a broad-based candidate. It is not a party. Leaders should not bring confusion to voters.”
Ruth echoed Sifuna’s statement, saying “Tomorrow we are going to Magarini. We are going as Orange. There is no party called broad-based. Even in Malava, they have a UDA candidate. They go there as UDA.”
Migori Senator Eddy Muok hit back at Sifuna, saying “I don’t understand the Sifuna who writes, signs, and reads documents on behalf of ODM and commits us to broad-based in the morning, and then postulates in the evening on the non-existence of broad-based.”
Nyando MP said “Mr President, we as a community are now certified orphans. I have never seen any orphan giving conditions. Therefore, our quest to work with you and lend you our support is both unequivocal and unconditional. We will stand with you because of what you have done.”
The bickering in ODM has split the party into two camps, with Governor Wanga leading one wing that includes MPs Sam Atandi, Jared Okello, Elisha Odhiambo, Phelix Odiwuor Jalang’o, Senator Eddy Muok, among others.
The other wing is led by Sifuna, Ruth Odinga, and Babu Owino, and has the support of Caleb Amisi, among others.
Ker Odungi Randa said the party should not split, as that would be a betrayal of the party leader, the late Raila Odinga.
“We must ensure the party remains united and maintains its identity. We know what Raila wanted for the party, and we must live up to his ideals,” he said.
President Ruto has maintained that he will not allow ODM to be destroyed by some quarters who want it for selfish ends.
So, when President Ruto spoke at Kango Ka Jaramogi during the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, where he said ODM will either form the government or be in a coalition that will form the government, the statement stirred a political reaction in the party.
“I know I am the leader of the UDA party in the Kenya Kwanza Coalition. I want to assure you, ODM, in Raila’s desire, he built the largest political party—ODM. I want to promise that we will respect ODM and support ODM to hold together.
ODM must be strong as we go to 2027 because that is how we will have a strong government. Political parties are the foundations of any meaningful democracy. Therefore, the future of ODM, the strength of ODM, and the welfare of ODM matter a great deal to me.
That is how we are going to have a strong nation—by having strong and vibrant political parties.
I want to assure you that ODM will form the government or form part of the next government. What I cannot allow, in honour of Raila, is for those who want to remove ODM and use it for their own selfish gains.”
