By Anderson Ojwang
Rattled, exposed, disoriented and left limping, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Linda Ground faction is in a race against time to stabilise the ship before it eventually capsizes.
The status quo has been challenged, and the Dr Oburu Oginga-led faction is suffocating from the Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino-led faction of Linda Mwananchi.
The successful Linda Mwananchi rally in Kisumu was a turning point in the region’s political landscape and placed the proposed pre-election coalition between President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ODM ahead of the 2027 general election in jeopardy.
The ground is no longer holding together for the Oburu-led faction, and for the last three weeks, the team has held a series of consultative meetings in Kisumu to remain politically afloat in what has been dubbed the “Kisumu Wabiro” rally at Kirembe Grounds in Kisumu West constituency.
For the last three weeks, ODM National Chairperson Governor Gladys Wanga, her Migori counterpart Ochilo Ayako, and Kisumu Central MP Dr Joshua Oron have been crisscrossing the city in one strategic meeting after another to salvage the ship from sinking.
The irony is that Kisumu, and Nyanza at large – the bedrock of ODM and the late Raila Amolo Odinga – has turned rebellious to Oburu’s faction, and now they have been forced to mobilise and engage in high-end publicity to draw residents to the function.
A pledge to the aspirants for 20 people each for the rally
The desperation to make a statement and to showcase that Linda Ground still holds sway and calls the shots in Nyanza politics resulted in the party leader, Dr Oburu, requesting aspirants to be accompanied by at least 20 people for the rally.
During the Monday meeting between the party leader and top ODM officials with aspirants in Kisumu, which was seen as an attempt to raise a crowd for the rally, Wanga was categorical in her statement, saying the Sunday meeting was meant to make a powerful statement to the opponents.
“We are directing all the aspirants to carry a minimum of 20 people. We want to make a statement right. It is only on that day, May 31st, that we will make that statement once and for all,” she said.
Wanga pleaded with the aspirants to turn up for the rally and ensure they were accompanied by 20 people to make the day a success.
“On the 31st, we are at Kirembe. It is not just a rally. We want to tell the world that we are strong as an ODM party and strong under the party leadership of Dr Oburu Oginga. It is a rally of a statement. Everyone is looking at us. If you are a coward, hide under the bed,” she said.
She wrote: “Together with Governor Dr. Ochilo Ayacko and Kisumu Central MP Dr. Joshua Oron, we had a productive meeting with the leadership of the Luo Council of Elders, led by Ker Odungi Randa. We updated each other not only on the preparations for the #KisumuWabiro rally but also on the sociocultural trajectory of our community.”
Sam Atandi and chaotic Kisumu meeting
Last Saturday, Alego MP Sam Atandi met with a youth league drawn from Kisumu at Tom Mboya Labour College in an event which turned chaotic, with allegations that the National Assembly Budget Chairman was roughed up by the youths.
But Atandi, in a video clip shared on various social media outlets, denied claims that he suffered an alleged knife attack.
The youth league meeting was aimed at mopping up youth support for the Sunday rally in a survival battle. The chaos that erupted at the event negated the agenda and mission of the meeting.
The Kirembe rally has received huge publicity after Wanga pleaded with aspirants, elected leaders and party members to have a poster of the rally on their social media platforms.
ODM olive branch to Orengo
On Thursday, Ayako offered an olive branch to Orengo and asked him to turn up for the rally.
“We are coming together as people of the region. We want all leaders from the region to show unity under the leadership of Dr Oburu Oginga,” he said.
But on Friday, Orengo was in Mbita, the backyard of Wanga, where an attempt to disrupt his rally left several people injured.
“Unfortunately, there were some goons who were sent to disrupt our entry to the town, but members of the public repulsed them, and we were able to hold our rallies,” Orengo said.
Reconciling Oburu and Orengo
Dr Oburu recently said that Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Zacchaeus Okoth was currently mediating between him and Siaya Governor James Orengo amid growing differences within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Oburu dismissed claims of a serious fallout within the party, maintaining that he does not hold any personal grudge against the Siaya governor.
Oburu said he had no personal dispute with Orengo, saying his party leadership followed the right process.
“I do not have any personal issue with Orengo at the party. I was elected through a straight process,” he stated.
The rally is expected to be packed following three weeks of planning and mobilisation to undo the Linda Mwananchi rally.
