By Anderson Ojwang
The political bromance between President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is facing an acid test in Nyanza as wrangles and infighting between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) intensify and turn bare-knuckle.
While President Ruto and Raila might be reading from the same script, their representatives have embarked on a fierce battle of supremacy that could affect the 2027 political agenda. The suspicion and fear surrounding the 2027 general elections are so entrenched that ODM has yet to integrate members of Parliament who shifted to support President Ruto before the formation of the Broad-Based Government.
In a recent viral clip, Kisumu Senator Prof. Tom Ojienda was allegedly removed from an ODM roundtable discussion attended by Raila over claims that he was no longer a party member after opting to work with President Ruto.
ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga recently stated that the rebels were welcome back but must be vetted and cleansed before reintegration into the fold. “The ODM party leadership has relaxed its firm stance against the perceived rebel Members of Parliament, who were sanctioned after a meeting with President William Ruto in February 2023. The rebel MPs are now welcome back to the party, but must be effectively vetted and subjected to proper political cleansing,” Governor Wanga said during a recent reunion party in Bondo hosted by Raila.
Raila had in 2020 called for the punishment of renegade MPs who worked with President Ruto, leading to disciplinary actions against legislators including Prof. Ojienda, Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Paul Abuor (Rongo), Felix Jalang’o Odiwuor (Lang’ata), and Gideon Ochanda (Bondo).
ODM’s National Executive Committee expelled five of these MPs after the party determined their actions went against the official party position. Interestingly, Ojienda and Nyamita have expressed interest in the gubernatorial seats for Kisumu and Migori, respectively, and have launched campaigns that have unsettled the regime.
Siaya Governor James Orengo said at the same function that the rebel MPs were welcome but must take a back seat when returning to the party. Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko emphasised the need to strengthen the ODM party, reiterating that it must remain strong despite its working relationship with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Chairman of the Lake Victoria South Water Works and Development Board, Mr Odoyo Owidi, remarked that after successful UDA elections in Nyanza—a first for an opposition party in the region—the ODM brigade became alarmed and embarked on a supremacy battle with UDA lieutenants on the ground. “The fear of the 2027 general elections, where the battlefield may be open and electorates allowed to elect leaders of their choice, is what is creating the infighting. Those who have relied on the party ticket are in panic mode and are creating baseless fights,” he said.
Odoyo wondered why Wanga and other ODM leaders were fighting UDA while the immediate former top party leadership had been appointed to the government and were supporting President Ruto’s 2027 bid. “The supremacy battle is not healthy for President Ruto’s 2027 agenda. ODM must accept the changing political dynamics in the country and be ready to accommodate opponents in its backyard. Nothing is static, and change can never be stopped. Our agenda is to give President Ruto the much-needed vote in 2027,” he added.
Governor Orengo recently called on ODM to move out of the Broad-Based Government, warning that it was making the party unpopular and could have severe consequences in the 2027 general elections. Orengo had earlier criticised the idea of ODM joining President William Ruto’s administration, terming it “an abomination, a disaster, and something that cannot work.”
Speaking at the burial of the late Oloo Aringo, Orengo said, “I want to believe that members in parliament and those in government will learn from Aringo, and when something is wrong, you must say it is wrong. We are being made dirty by swine because we have sacrificed.”
MP Ongondo Were has maintained that ODM cannot merge with and work under UDA, emphasising that Nyanza remains ODM’s stronghold.
Meanwhile, Odoyo Owidi dismissed ODM leaders as individuals pursuing personal interests rather than the community’s welfare. “The fear of losing elections in a fair competition is causing ODM MPs sleepless nights. They know that without the party and Raila, they are crippled politically. That is why they have started petty wars to hoodwink voters,” he said.
