By Anderson Ojwang

The absence of Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, the founder secretary general and former acting party leader, at the ODM special delegates conference (SDC) was so telling and sent mixed signals.

If anything, the absence of Nyong’o left the party leader Dr Oburu Oginga a lonely person after Siaya Governor James Orengo led the Linda Mwananchi faction opposed to pre-election coalition arrangement with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Nyong’o’s presence would have validated the SDC, the new office, and his absence has left more questions than answers within the ranks and file in the party and nationally.

Instead Nyong’o presided over the unveiling of the Chun Jeong–Eun–Nyong’o Cancer Centre at Victoria Annex Hospital, Milimani.

He wrote on his social media handles: “The journey of 1000 miles starts with one step, and we took that bold step today with the desire to transform healthcare in Kisumu by unveiling the Chun Jeong–Eun–Nyong’o Cancer Centre at Victoria Annex Hospital, Milimani.

I had the honor of presiding over this historic occasion alongside Mr. Peter Chun, Chairman and President of the World Smart Cities Forum, and Mama Kisumu, Dorothy Nyong’o – Managing Trustee of the African Cancer Foundation, in the company of other distinguished guests.

For far too long, cancer has placed a heavy burden on our families and communities. Today, we begin to rewrite that story. This Centre is more than a facility. It is a bold symbol of hope, reaffirming our commitment to confront cancer with courage, innovation, and compassion for all.

Through our partnership with Mr. Peter Chun, the National Government and other partners, we are turning vision into reality by establishing two centres: a public facility at JOOTRH to ensure universal access and this advanced centre to position Kisumu as a regional hub for specialized cancer care.

Also present were County Secretary Hesbon Hongo, CECMs Dr. Greg Ganda (Public Health), George Okong’o (Finance), Judith Oluoch (Environment), City Manager Abala Wanga, County Attorney Otieno Aluoka and other distinguished leaders.”

It is Nyong’o who headhunted the embattled Secretary General Edwin Sifuna after then SG Ababu Namwamba resigned.
Sifuna, with other members of his faction, was at Ufungamano House holding the People’s National Delegates Conference, putting the Governor in a fix.

Sifuna declared that he could not be a secretary general to Dr Oburu and instead asked him to look for his own secretary general.

“Oburu, look for your SG. I cannot be Oburu’s SG. I want to say this before God and the nation. I will not be the SG of mediocrity after serving Raila Amolo Odinga. You characters do not deserve me,” he said.

Nyong’o in his previous speeches explained how Sifuna rose to become the party secretary general.

He spotted Sifuna’s talents through his newspaper contributions and decided to tap his knowledge and potential for the ODM party.

Nyong’o decided to invite Sifuna for a lunch meeting to evaluate his competence and whether he fitted the bill.

Nyong’o was convinced and humbled in his first interaction, and that marked the beginning of a new secretary general for the party.

“Before I say much, I want to deal with a few matters arising from what has been spoken here. Are we together?

First, is the issue of Edwin Sifuna. I think none of you knows how Edwin Sifuna came into ODM.

Edwin used to write for the Standard Newspaper, very good articles. And after serving for 12 years as secretary general of ODM, I asked the party leader to allow me to concentrate on developing the research wing of the party and give the technocracy to another secretary general.

We tried a few people; it never worked. So one day, I said to myself, that young man, who writes so well in the Standard. Let me call him and have lunch with him at United Kenya Club. I met Sifuna and I was very impressed. So I went and talked to the party leader and he agreed to have him on board,” he said in a previous speech.

He said Sifuna never failed him and he has performed exemplary well as the spokesperson of the party.

“We read the interview Sifuna had at Kenya Times, where he made it very clear, being the secretary general and the spokesperson of the party, he clarified every issue and since then, we have not seen any writing about Sifuna in the newspaper at all,” he said.

Nyong’o defended Sifuna from his critics, saying he was professional in his work, and wondered about the contributions of his critics, then.

“Sasa wewe ni nani. Sasa wewe unaanza leo kupinga Sifuna wewe ni nani? (Who are you who have started to criticize Sifuna? Who are you?) We in the party sought Sifuna from his professional work to bring him into the party.

He has been doing an excellent job since then. Let us support him, we in the party and the people, let us support him.

The guy is built for the future. You know what I mean. Ukiangalia mbele, utaona Sifuna. If you don’t know what I am saying, go home and think,” he said then.

In a twist of events, the ODM invited Ababu to the convention, with Oburu saying the party will not expel any member but will sack those officials disrupting the party’s unity.

By Anderson Ojwang

Two historic venues, Jamhuri Park and Ufangamano House, heralded a new post-Raila Amolo Odinga political dispensation in his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

The two factions in the ODM, Linda Ground of Dr Oburu Oginga and Linda Wananchi of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, made good their plans and held parallel NDCs, with various branches showing affiliation to the two camps.

At Ufangamano House, the high presence of police and armoured anti-riot vehicles—a trademark that became part and parcel of Raila’s and ODM’s political journey—returned. The police built camp outside the venue.

The die-hard Raila supporters did not fail the Sifuna-led team, as they forced their way into the venue, with Sifuna declaring that they should not fear the police and tear gas.

“We are in the footsteps of our leader Raila Odinga. What can we fear? That is why they sent the police to intimidate us. But we cannot be cowed and we are not cowards,” he said.

Siaya Governor James Orengo, who was accompanied by his Siaya County ODM branch chair, capped it by saying the soul of Raila was at Ufangamano House and dismissed the Jamhuri meeting as illegal and unconstitutional.

“The soul of Raila Amolo Odinga is here. We are the children of Raila Odinga. We are reformists and fighters. We are winners. Those are opportunists,” Orengo said.

Sifuna also declared that he cannot work with the party leader Dr Oburu, National Chairperson Gladys Wanga and Director of Elections Junet Mohammed.

At Jamhuri Park, the NDC confirmed Oburu, Kisii Governor Simba Arati and his Mombasa counterpart Abdulsamad Nassir as deputy party leaders, while Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga was ratified as the National Chairperson.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was kicked out as deputy party leader, while Sifuna’s post was left intact. Osotsi had earlier written that he would not attend but would instead be at the Linda Mwananchi meeting at Ufangamano.

He wrote, “We, the people, shall gather for the people’s NDC at Ufangamano House. Any other NDC gathering is illegitimate.”

The much-lobbied bid for Winnie Odinga to become deputy party leader failed to materialise, and she appealed to the party leadership not to expel anyone from the party.

Oburu told Winnie that the party would not expel anyone, but officials causing disunity would have to be sacked from their positions.

“I have heard what my daughter Winnie has said. We will not expel anyone, but those holding positions in the party who are causing disunity will have to be sacked. You cannot come out to criticise the resolution of the majority and want to lean on your tribe to support your agenda. The minority will have their say, but the majority their way. That is democracy,” he said.

Oburu said he would not wish to witness the party follow the path it took at its formation, following the battle over leadership between ODM-K under Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka.

Oburu said the party will form a technical team to negotiate with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) over pre-election coalition arrangements.

“My brother left us in a broad-based government. I have been mandated to embark on negotiations. I will form a technical team to negotiate with UDA,” he said.

But Embakasi East MP Babu Owino said their objective was to ensure President Ruto was defeated in the 2027 general elections and that they would not enter or recognise any pre-election coalition engagement.

“We know President Ruto sponsored the Oburu NDC and they have fallen into his trap. We know what Raila wanted, and we cannot betray his soul and legacy in death,” he said.

Junet said ODM will not negotiate with UDA in areas considered its strongholds, adding that zoning was the first condition.

“We will not allow UDA to field candidates in zones where ODM has governors, MPs, MCAs and other elected leaders. That is non-negotiable,” he said.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi said Oburu had presided over the death of his younger brother Raila’s legacy.

He wrote on social media, “Oburu’s team, you are messing up Raila’s legacy. Take a rest, alone, and think about when you visited your brother in prison.”

Linda Mwananchi, after “stealing” Raila’s soul, now moves to Mombasa this weekend, while Linda Ground embarks on boardroom negotiations with President Ruto.

For Oburu, history may have caught up with him in just five months—presiding over the first sacking in Raila’s party and witnessing the disintegration of his brother’s political outfit.

Just like the battle between Raila, a former Vice President, and the late Wamalwa Kijana over control of Ford-K, Oburu has stoked a similar flame, pitting him against Sifuna.

It may only be a matter of time before Oburu carries the “head” to Kango ka Jaramogi, while Sifuna flies with the “soul” to the land of prophet Elijah Masinde, just as Wamalwa once did.

By Anderson Ojwang

Today, at the historic Jamhuri Park, the legacy of Kenya’s Enigma, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, will come to test.

Five months after his death, Raila’s political party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), will walk to its destiny.

The Special National Delegates Conference (SNDC) will herald a new chapter in the party by either burying or cultivating political careers.

Similarly, ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga will be on the cross at Jamhuri Park, either presiding at the altar of the party’s resurgence or the burial of his younger brother’s treasured asset and legacy.

ODM is walking to the SNDC a divided house with two factions namely Linda Ground of Dr Oburu and Linda Mwananchi of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.

History could be repeating itself two decades after the party was formed. At its inception, Orange was split into two with one piece going to Raila while the other went to Kalonzo Musyoka.

And today, the ghost of division has returned and Raila’s spirit is restless, as his party of struggle faces the moment of survival.

Oburu’s wing of Linda Ground may have their way in having the instrument of the party just like Kalonzo Musyoka had with ODM-K but lost the people.

Sifuna’s team of Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino may not have their way in the party but will happily walk away with the people just like Raila did.

And with the Political Parties Tribunal ruling which okayed the SNDC, it delivered a rope to the party to hang itself.

It ruled that for now, Sifuna remains ODM’s Secretary General — pending the final determination of the case.

The Tribunal issued orders staying the implementation of a resolution passed by ODM’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on Wednesday, which sought to oust Sifuna as the party’s Secretary General.

The orders will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the matter on an inter partes basis.

The Secretary General Curse

ODM’s seat of the Secretary General could be said to be a cursed one. After the founding Secretary General Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, the post has been an altar of death of political careers.

Langat Mangerer as the Secretary General was kicked out of the office by the party’s lethal wing Men in Black and his political career came tumbling down.

Langat was replaced by then Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba who faced a similar fate at Kasarani during the National Delegates Conference and subsequently resigned.

And currently facing the guillotine is Sifuna, whose fate may be determined today. But unlike Langat and Ababu, Sifuna may walk away a hero while his tormentors may remain with a shell in the name of a party.

Parallel NDC and the Luhya factor in play

ODM of Dr Oburu will be at Jamhuri Park while Orengo and his team will hold a parallel one. This will mark the point of departure. A mass walkout will be in the offing and a possible formation of a new political vehicle.

Already, ODM delegates have voiced their concerns and may follow their son Sifuna on his next political move.

Already a section of Vihiga elders led by Fred Omido warned ODM that the NDC contravenes the rules and the constitution of the party.

They also warned MPs from the region elected on the ODM ticket not to attend Oburu’s meeting but instead go to Sifuna’s one.

“Oburu’s meeting is illegal. We have agreed that ODM MPs from Western Kenya who attend the meeting shall have betrayed the Luhya community.

We will not attend that Oburu’s meeting. We will go to Sifuna’s meeting and that is where we are directing our MPs to attend,” he said.

The delegates’ confusion

Already trouble is brewing over the list of the delegates with some claiming the list has been tampered with and manipulated. For instance, in Nyando and Muhoroni factions have emerged.

In Nyando, area MP Jared Opiyo and MCA Ken Okoth have different sets of delegates and a similar script is playing out in Muhoroni between Robert Nyasuna and area MP Onyango Koyoo. And this is replicating in several other regions.

The Winnie Odinga factor

The Nairobi branch has insisted that Winnie Odinga must be made one of the party’s deputy leaders against opposition from some quarters. This could be the faultline leading to a chaotic situation during the meeting.

Winnie said the Nairobi branch must have a seat at the SNDC on March 27th because of their contribution and that ODM was her home.

“ODM is our home. ODM is the party my father built. Why should I leave and go where? I will remain in ODM. In this journey it has not been easy. We still have a place to go and the party position should be considered for those people who have put their lives in the struggle. It is in Nairobi where we demonstrate and not the villages. There are no demos in the villages. You cannot deny Nairobi its right. Nairobi must have a seat on the day. On March 27th, Nairobi will have our day and say,” she said.

ODM Deputy Party leader Abdulsamad Nassir said there was a possibility for a consideration for Winnie to be made as one of the deputy party leaders.

He said a proposal had been made by the Nairobi branch and the SNDC could consider it after the party leader Dr Oburu Oginga’s position is ratified by the delegates at the convention.

“Winnie qualifies to be deputy party leader. There is a proposition which has been done by delegates in Nairobi. In this SNDC, the agenda has been published but in the same way we got into office.

A proposal can come in to make her deputy party leader and the proposal can be considered once our party leader has been ratified. It is something that can definitely be discussed. She has a future. I said this at Raila Odinga’s funeral,” he said.

ODM National chairman Gladys Wanga said Winnie qualified but the SNDC was called for the purpose of ratification of the officials, and they will have an ordinary NDC at the end of every fifth year.

Jamhuri moment could be the final rite of passage of the Enigma as his decades of struggle take their last breath.

By Anderson Ojwang

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked the ODM leadership to request President William Ruto to disburse the Sh 12B political fund owed to the party by the government.

Gachagua said it was unfortunate that the leadership was driven by tokenism from the president instead of disbursement of political funds owed to them.

“Instead of going for tokens, kindly ask the President to disburse even half of the amount owed to make the party financially sound. Former party national chairman John Mbadi is the current Cabinet Secretary for Finance. Why can’t he arrange to release funds to ODM?

We need a stronger party with a sound financial standing. This is what the party leadership should prioritize,” Gachagua said.

But in a quick response, ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga told Gachagua to give them a break and they do not want his advice.

“Gachagua should give us a break. He should concentrate on his village party DCP. He has built his politics on hate and division,” she said.

In a recent interview, the embattled Party secretary general Edwin Sifuna revealed that the funds and resources being used in the ongoing Linda Ground engagement did not come from the party.

He said the party was owed over Sh 12 billion by the government for the political party funds which has negated its operations.

“The money and the resources you see being spent on the ODM rallies called Linda Ground. The monies do not come from ODM headquarters.

For me, I can only account for the monies because I am a signatory to the bank accounts; Timothy Bosire is a signatory to the bank accounts.

The last money we expended as ODM officially was for the celebration in Mombasa and it was a fraction of what you saw there,” he said.

Sifuna said there was parallel funding of political activities in the party and they do not know where the funds were coming from.

“For a fact there is parallel funding for activities clothed in ODM colors and they go around saying they are ODM delegates.

The Linda Ground are not financed from the ODM coffers and headquarters. There is no money that I executed a cheque for those activities.

We didn’t have any money; the third quarter remittance from the exchequer came two weeks ago, about Sh 100m, and it is a drop in the ocean compared to what exactly ODM is supposed to receive.

ODM is owed a total of Sh 12 billion by the treasury yet we are being told that my former chairperson is the cabinet secretary for Treasury,” he said.

Kisumu Women Representative Ruth Odinga supported Sifuna’s concerns over the financing of the ODM Linda Ground activities and wondered about the source of money flowing into the party.

“As a signatory to the ODM account, if Sifuna questioned where all the money for choppers, big tents and ODM branded t-shirts and caps in the ‘Linda Ground’ conventions were coming from? He admitted on national TV that ODM Party has not spent any coin on the campaigns which run into millions of shillings. Those with the answers, why can’t you provide them? Are governors funding the campaigns? Are MPs doing it from the CDF kitty? Did we get a philanthropist that a Party SG is not aware of who is funding the clearly expensive public fora? And what is in it for the ‘philanthropist’?” she questioned.

Ruth Odinga raised the alarm over the free flowing money in the ODM party which was undermining its unity and activities.

She wondered why the government was not releasing the Sh 12 billion owed to the party.

“Where is the money used in flying in choppers, being used to procure big tents and to mobilize and brand crowds in ODM colors, yet the same money cannot be sent to the ODM Party bank accounts only means one thing: control,” she said.

The Political Parties Fund is a constitutional requirement based on the strength of the political party.

“Where is the money coming from? Is it in the Budget and Appropriations Committee at the National Assembly, and I know that the government has not given ODM party money. So where is all the money coming from?” she asked.