By Anderson Ojwang
After a lackluster show by ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga at the Linda Ground rally last weekend in Tononoka, Mombasa, the group has now shifted the battle to Siaya County amid growing hostility in the region.
ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga on Tuesday faced growing hostility in both Ahero Town in Kisumu and Kendu Bay in Homa Bay County after she was heckled and booed over wrangles in the party and the proposed pre-election coalition.
In both Ahero and Kendu town stopovers, Wanga and her entourage were heckled as the crowd chanted the names of Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
The crowd told Wanga they were prepared to return to demonstrations and dismissed her calls to support development.
Stung by the emerging hostility in Nyanza, top party leaders from the region embarked on making calls and inviting influential personalities to join their brigade to help contain the situation.
Last evening, national party officials, Kisumu leaders, and local party officials were working on a damage-control strategy to counter the Linda Mwananchi brigade in Kisumu on their way to Kakamega Town for the rally.
Oburu posted on his X handle: “Linda Ground, Ahindi Gardens, Siaya Town, 21st February 2026.”
Alego MP Sam Atandi, who is also the National Assembly Budget Committee Chairman and the host MP, also wrote on his X handle: “Bi Uru (Come all).”
Interestingly, Siaya Governor James Orengo is one of the key members of Linda Mwananchi, and the rally in Siaya will test his grip on the county.
While Oburu will be in Alego, his maternal uncle’s backyard, Orengo, his on-and-off ally and rival, will be in Kakamega Town, where the Luhya community is expected to receive back their son, Sifuna, following his botched sacking.
For the Linda Ground team, the Siaya meeting holds the key to their political turnaround after Linda Mwananchi held successful rallies in Busia and Kitengela in the last two weeks.
For Oburu, the Siaya meeting will be used to determine his grip on Nyanza politics and to send a warning to political opponents opposed to the proposed pre-election coalition pact with President William Ruto’s UDA party.
The Linda Mwananchi brigade is expected to converge in Kisumu before departing for Mbale in Vihiga and culminating in a final rally in Kakamega Town.
President William Ruto held a consultative meeting with legislators from Kakamega County on Monday ahead of the Linda Mwananchi rally in the town.
The meeting sent mixed signals on the political terrain, coming shortly after a section of MPs from the county sided with Sifuna over his sacking.
President Ruto, on his X handle, said he engaged MPs from Kakamega County at State House, Nairobi, on matters of development.
“Our discussions centered on accelerating development projects, including affordable housing, modern markets, road upgrades, the expansion of Kakamega Airport, completion of Bukhungu Stadium, and deepening access to electricity and water, among others.
We undertake to work with all leaders, irrespective of their political persuasions, to move our country forward and leave no one behind,” he wrote.
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi said the Linda Mwananchi tour is scheduled for Saturday and urged the Luhya community to turn up in large numbers.
He wrote on his X handle: “Mbale Town and Kakamega Town mko tayari. Saturday 21st February 2026. Kenya needs renaissance.”
On President Ruto’s meeting with MPs from the county, Amisi questioned whether the political pressure on the President was increasing or decreasing.
He wrote on his X handle, accompanied by a photo of President Ruto with the MPs: “Does pressure increase or decrease?”
Over the weekend, Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera supported ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, saying his removal was unfair and unconstitutional and that he was not given an opportunity to defend himself.
“As a founder member of the party, I have today made it clear that ODM must live by its ideals, including promoting democracy and espousing fairness. As clearly demonstrated, ODM NEC did not give Edwin Sifuna, the Secretary General, a fair hearing as provided for in our Constitution. On behalf of the genuine Kakamega leadership of ODM, we find the decision of the NEC unfair and unconstitutional,” he wrote on his Facebook handle.
Butere MP Tindi Mwale said the State House meeting was developmental in nature and aimed at accelerating service delivery.
He wrote on his Facebook page: “Joined my colleagues, leaders from Kakamega County, in holding candid and constructive discussions concerning development with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
The meeting focused on matters of national importance, with particular emphasis on ongoing and proposed development projects and programs in Kakamega, as well as strategies to accelerate transformation and strengthen service delivery in the region.”
In Mombasa, Oburu said they would not allow people to pull them back after the party mandated him to embark on negotiations with President William Ruto’s UDA.
“I have made my shoes and I have started to walk, so I cannot fall. Raila left us in a broad-based arrangement. I have been mandated by the party to negotiate with President Ruto. I am soon forming a strong team from ODM to lead the negotiations.
We are not going to allow people to pull us backward. Things will not fall apart,” he said.
Babu said the Kitengela rally marked an important moment in the party and defined the two factions.
“Today they have the party, but we have the party members. When they go to State House, do they tell you? They go alone. They are trying to threaten us, but they cannot manage us,” he said.
Orengo said the genuine ODM members were in Kitengela and that those in Mombasa should refund President Ruto his money.
“Watu wa ODM ambao wako Mombasa warudishie Ruto pesa zake (Those ODM members in Mombasa should refund Ruto his money). ODM members and leaders are here in Kitengela,” he said.
Oburu said there were disciplinary issues in the party and that the minority must accept the decision of the majority.
“In ODM, as you all know, we have some disciplinary issues within us because we believe that a political party is like a club. It must have discipline, and democracy does not mean chaos but order.
If you are in the minority and you are defeated, you keep your tail under you and do not go out talking as if you are the king,” he said.
Sifuna responded that as of February 15, 2026, he was still the Secretary General of ODM.
“Kitengela hoyee! Can you see me better? Because of your prayers and the love of God, I stand here in Kitengela as the Secretary General of ODM,” he said.
In Mombasa, Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed accused the Sifuna faction of affiliating with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
He said the Mombasa meeting was purely ODM, unlike the Kitengela one, which he said was attended by leaders from Jubilee, DCP, Wiper, and other parties.
However, Babu Owino said the fruits of demonstrations cannot be downplayed and that their contribution to a better Kenya is well documented.
“Every day they say they don’t want demos. Let me ask: how did we chase away the colonialists? What brought multipartyism, the new Constitution, and the broad-based government?” he said.
