By Anderson Ojwang
The last straw – the WhatsApp group that held the Orange Democratic Movement family together, Linda Mwananchi and Linda Ground – was the last nail in the coffin of the split after the weekend’s removal of the former members from the wall.
After a decade of strong bond, love and a common agenda under the leadership of the founder, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, the wall became a point of convergence.
Even after the demise of Raila and the fallout in the party over the pre-election coalition between President William Ruto’s UDA and ODM under Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga as propagated by Linda Ground, while Linda Mwananchi of immediate former Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino rallied behind Raila’s last message “Who told you ODM will not have a presidential candidate in 2027 elections?” – the wall survived.
The sacking
After several failed attempts to sack Sifuna and the recent successful ouster, they did not remove the Linda Mwananchi group from the ODM wall.
Even with the formation of Linda Mwananchi and even the declaration by Orengo as the de facto party leader, the group remained on the wall.
Last weekend’s rallies
But irked by the emerging influence of the new outfit and the mass defections from ODM county and sub-county officials to the outfit, the dice was cast. It was only a matter of when.
The successful rallies in Kitale in Trans Nzoia County and Bungoma left panic mode in the Oburu-led faction.
With the only weapon left at their disposal to humiliate the opponent, after the Kitale rally, they culled, cleaned and removed all the members from the wall.
Sifuna said: “After the Kitale rally, we were all removed from the WhatsApp wall. We didn’t leave; we were ejected. That was the last straw.”
“The Swahili saying ‘he who chases you doesn’t tell you to go.’ It is clear that those in the leadership of ODM today are done with us.”
Sifuna said there was a move to de-whip Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi and himself from the various committees they are in.
“There is a motion in the Senate to effect further changes to remove Senator Godfrey Osotsi as Chairman of the County Public Investment Committee. They are going to remove me from the Public Accounts Committee to Fishery and Agriculture. They think that is a punishment, but I need to learn about those because of the upcoming assignments,” he said.
He said the Oburu-led faction has severed links with the Sifuna team and cannot reconcile.
“They are basically done with us. It is them kicking us out. On Saturday, when we finished our rallies in Kitale, I just saw all of us being removed from the ODM WhatsApp group,” he said.
Sifuna said the public will judge Linda Ground and Linda Mwananchi on protection of ODM’s soul and creed.
“They kicked all of us out; it is not us leaving. It is obvious, and the public will be left to judge those of us who have been in ODM and who believe the party should take a different direction. We have fought for the soul of the party, but we are getting closer to elections, and it is clear that our colleagues in the party have no time for us,” he said.
Sifuna said it was no longer tenable to fight and appeal over his sacking.
“We have kept a good fight. I feel I have kept my promise to my boss that I would not be the one to wreck the party. They came after us. Decisions of the party are taken from State House because they now claim to be part of the government,” he said.
He said they were concerned with the 2027 general elections and the expectations the public have bestowed in them.
“Members of ODM know what has transpired. We are getting into elections. The public believes and trusts in us as Linda Mwananchi, and that doesn’t require us to fight any longer. Our responsibility is to get organised and focus on the future,” he said.
Ruto’s triumph
The removal from the WhatsApp group was the last victory of President Ruto over his opponents, who are now emerging as the strongest challengers.
Ruto had maintained during the burial of Raila in October that he would not allow the party to slip into the wrong hands of wrong people.
“I will not allow the party to fall into the hands of wrong people. I want to commit here that I will protect it,” he said at the burial then.
A victory that haunts
The removal and the sacking was a bittersweet victory for President Ruto.
Ruto has wrestled the party from his opponents but now has a date with the hunted who have turned into the hunters.
Sifuna is riding high, and the latest opinion poll positioned him at 15 percent behind Ruto, who has stagnated at 24 percent.
Ruto currently leads Sifuna by nine percent and is likely to face a stiff contest from the Nairobi Senator.
Linda Mwananchi is currently enjoying massive support countrywide while Linda Ground is limping to the grave.
Hammer strike.
