By Anderson Ojwang

In what could be described as his final engagement with the ODM parliamentary group, the late Raila Amolo Odinga left behind a powerful message that is now shaking the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Addressing legislators and party officials, Raila, in his characteristic tone, cautioned against premature political commitments, saying:
“Look at what we have signed, and we must remain as ODM. We signed and agreed that we will work together up to 2027. We have not passed any resolution as a party to say how we are going to the elections in 2027.
So wherever you are, don’t commit the party to things which have not been discussed. Let those things be discussed first. We are ODM. Who told you that ODM will not have a candidate in 2027? Who has told you? First think like ODM. Other decisions we will take when the time comes.”

The statement has since split ODM down the middle. Raila’s elder brother and current party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, has declared that ODM will not field a presidential candidate in 2027. However, another faction led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo insists that the party must present a candidate, arguing that it was Raila’s final wish.

Oburu now finds himself in a dilemma: whether to retrace his steps and implement Raila’s last directive or chart a completely new course for the party.

In a move seen as an attempt to assert authority, Dr Oburu has convened a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for Wednesday. The meeting is expected to deliberate on disciplinary action against three officials accused of defying the party leader’s position on a pre-election coalition.

Those facing possible disciplinary measures include Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Deputy Party Leader Geoffrey Osotsi, and Deputy Organising Secretary Ruth Odinga. The trio has openly criticised the proposed pre-election pact between ODM and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, who attended the meeting with Raila, said the late ODM leader had only authorised Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi to publicly support Ruto’s two-term agenda.

“Raila told us not to say ‘two term’. Any MP who wanted to contradict that was warned. Only Alego MP Sam Atandi requested permission because of his role as Budget Committee chair,” Omondi said.

Despite this, Oburu has maintained that ODM will only negotiate from a position of strength. In a past TV interview, he said:
“If we have to go for a lower position, it must not be lower than number two — the Deputy President. That is my take.”

He added that ODM’s immediate focus is rebuilding and strengthening its grassroots base before entering negotiations.
“Nobody will respect you or negotiate with you if you are a weak party,” he said.

However, during a recent event in Kisumu attended by President Ruto and Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki, Oburu appeared to soften his stance, stating that ODM was not eyeing the deputy president’s seat.

“Deputy President, do not think we want your seat. We are friends. As we negotiate, we will negotiate what our people and our party deserve,” he said, insisting that ODM remains a national party.

Oburu further said he would personally lead ODM through negotiations, promising to deliver more benefits to party supporters.
“When you follow flies, they take you to the pit latrine. When you follow bees, they take you to honey,” he remarked.

He cited Cabinet appointments and parliamentary positions secured by ODM leaders as evidence of gains already made through engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Meanwhile, Sifuna has stood firm, insisting that Raila was categorical that ODM would field a presidential candidate — a position he maintains was Raila’s final wish.

By Anderson Ojwang

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, has moved to crack the whip in the party by inviting the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for this Wednesday.

The meeting is expected to hand in disciplinary measures on three “rebel” officials who read from a different script from the party leader on the pre-election coalition.

Oburu and his faction are expected to crack the whip on the party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Deputy Party Leader Geoffrey Osotsi, and Deputy Organising Secretary Ruth Odinga.

The trio have been critical of the proposed pre-election pact between ODM and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of President William Ruto.

Sources told Western Insight that the faction, stung by the successful Busia Linda Wananchi rally, urgently convened a high-voltage meeting in Nairobi, which sealed the fate of the trio.

Sources told Western Insight that Oburu’s team was sent into panic mode and resolved that it was time to kick out the trio to avoid losing the party leadership to Sifuna’s team.

Attempts to talk to Oburu were unsuccessful as his calls went unanswered, while ODM Director of Communication Philip Etale could not be reached.

Yesterday, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi called for the sacking of Sifuna for disrespecting Oburu’s leadership status, saying they were fully behind the pre-election coalition with President Ruto.

The move comes hot on the heels of last week’s explosive interview on Citizen TV with Sifuna, who revealed that Linda Ground activities by Oburu’s team were receiving parallel funding and not from the party coffers.

He also said Oburu and a section of party officials were still serving on an interim basis, a position Oburu vehemently denied in a press statement.

In a recent interview, Sifuna said the Kilifi Central Management Committee ratified that the party engages in coalition talks with various political formations in the country.

“The resolution of the Kilifi meeting is clear and specific. It said the party to embark on coalition formation with other political formation in the country. There is nowhere it talked about UDA as the only formation. We expect to engage all the political formations in the country with a view of a possible alliance” he said.

Sifuna said ODM, as one of the oldest parties in the country, was prepared to present a presidential candidate and quoted the late Raila Odinga saying “who told you ODM will not have a presidential candidate in 2027”.

He also maintained that Dr Oburu and his team were still on an interim basis and would have to be ratified by the National Delegates Conference.

In a press statement, Oburu said they were substantively in office and dismissed Sifuna’s claims that they were interim party officials.

Oburu wrote, “We want to state categorically that all party officials are serving substantively and are supported by the party organs’ resolutions. However, the interview also contained assertions that misled the public regarding the legitimacy of certain party organs and office holders. ODM has, since its inception, demonstrated fidelity to its constitution and to the rule of law. The same principle has put every individual in their rightful positions, including that of Senator Sifuna.”

Sifuna revealed that the funds and resources being used in the ongoing Linda Ground engagement did not come from the party.

“The money and the resources you see being spent on the ODM rallies called Linda Ground do not come from ODM headquarters. For me, I can only account for the monies because I am a signatory to the bank accounts, and Timothy Bosire is also a signatory. 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 that they did not know where the funds were coming from.

“For a fact, there is parallel funding for activities clothed in ODM colours, and they go around saying they are ODM delegates. The Linda Ground activities are not financed from the ODM coffers and headquarters. There is no money that I executed a cheque for those activities.”

Ruth also questioned the millions of shillings currently being used by the party to hire choppers, tents, and pay delegates while the party was owed Sh12 billion by the government.

The Linda Wananchi had a successful rally in Busia, where they vowed to derail any coalition talks with President Ruto. In this camp are battle-hardened leaders led by Kenya’s longest-serving political activist, Siaya Governor James Orengo, alongside new entrants MP Babu Owino, Sifuna, Osotsi, among others.

By Anderson Ojwang

Internal Security Permanent Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo has appealed to the Luo community to reciprocate the 2007 overwhelming support by the Kalenjin community for the late Raila Amolo Odinga.

Omollo said the Kalenjin community, through their leader President William Ruto, supported Raila’s candidature and his eventual assumption of office as Prime Minister.

“In 2007, for the first time Raila contested for the presidency on an ODM ticket, our neighbours and cousins, the Kalenjin, overwhelmingly supported and voted for him,” he said.

Omollo said that while other communities demanded Raila sign memoranda of understanding before supporting his candidature, the Kalenjin did not.

“When he went to other communities, they demanded Raila sign MOUs on the sharing of government positions. This is what other communities put him through.

But in his meeting with the Kalenjin community in Nairobi, they told him they would not sign any MOU.

You are our brother and our son. We will support you without any condition. Those who were there would tell you Raila shed tears,” he said.

Omollo said the Luo community should reciprocate the goodwill extended to Raila by the Kalenjin community.

“I want to speak to our people, the Luo community. It would be the worst betrayal if our brother, who has lived well with us, is put through unnecessary procedures,” he said.

Currently, President Ruto has been mandated by his UDA party to engage in a pre-election pact with ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga.

The ODM Central Committee meeting in Kilifi mandated Oburu to engage in coalition talks with various political formations.

Oburu has declared that ODM will enter into a pre-election coalition pact with President Ruto and support his second term.

Oburu recently declared before President Ruto and his deputy, Prof Abraham Kithure Kindiki, that ODM was not eyeing the Deputy President’s seat.

Oburu said, “Deputy President, do not think we want your seat or that we want to chase you away. No.

Please, you are our friend, but as we negotiate, we are going to negotiate what our people deserve and what our party deserves. ODM is not a Luo party; it is a national party. We will negotiate fairly. We are not going to take anybody’s share. Everybody will get their fair share,” he said.

Oburu said he would lead ODM during the negotiations and promised to lead the party to Canaan through Singapore.

“I am leading ODM. When you follow flies, they will take you to a pit latrine, and when you follow bees, you will get honey.

We are in talks with UDA. We are going to make sure that we have more than what we currently have.

You can already see that we have managed to secure these good ministries for you. We have Energy, headed by Opiyo Wandayi, and Finance, which is the heart of government, led by John Mbadi. Even Alego MP Sam Atandi is the Chairman of the Budget Committee,” he said.

Oburu said President Ruto has undertaken several transformative projects in the region, which must be lauded.

“We will start talking with UDA. Some people are saying we are in a hurry. We are not in a hurry. The election is next year, and we must prepare in advance.

I want to tell you that I will take you to Canaan through Singapore. Singapore is these programmes we have launched today. We are giving money to the people,” he said.

By Anderson Ojwang

The Church in Kenya is on the spot over what can be termed as the brown envelope capture by the political class to articulate their agenda.

For decades, the political class have exploited the power of brown envelope donations to the Church, using the pulpit to propagate their agenda.

But some churches, such as the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church of Kenya, have stood their ground by either politely returning the donations or banning politicians from the pulpit.

With 18 months to the general elections, the Church has once again become a soft political landing for both the opposition and the government.

The political class begin their functions by attending church services before proceeding to rallies, and this has compromised the Church’s stand on some of the issues affecting the country.

Former Cabinet Minister Raphael Tuju, on Friday at a funeral in Mt Kenya, said the Church has fallen victim to political manipulation through brown envelope donations.

“I want to request you that the problem of this country begins with the church. Sisi uko ndiyo sisi upeleka harambe tukianza (it is where we fundraise to begin our programmes). All these politicians, if you ask them, where can we meet people? They say church.
We normally go to church to give money and then you can take us this direction and that direction. I challenge you to talk to other bishops wherever they are, because I thought it is the same Jesus Christ we are following,” he said.

Tuju challenged the Church to rise above political manipulation and help in healing the nation.

“As church leaders, I would like to challenge you, please talk to other church leaders across the country on how we can heal this land,” he said.

Tuju said he was a victim of the 2007 post-election violence for supporting President Mwai Kibaki and witnessed far-reaching consequences.

“I can say that with authority because I was a victim of post-election violence in 2007. I was the only person in my region who was supporting President Mwai Kibaki, and they went and attacked my cousin, and until today he has no arm. He is a high school headmaster and he does not have an arm just because he was associated with PNU at that time and associated with me as Raphael Tuju.
I never talk about these things. From 2007 to 2018, my late mother could not go to the market because she was a mother to a betrayer who supported Kibaki when everybody else was following Raila Odinga.
It was only in 2018 that my mother was able to go to the market because Raila had a handshake with Uhuru Kenyatta.
What I am telling you is that if this country descends into chaos, nobody is safe,” he said.

Two ACK bishops, Rev Charles Onginjo and Prof David Kodia, termed the situation as unfortunate and worrying.

“The Church aligns itself to what is popular. A mistake made in one corner should not be used as a blanket to condemn the Church wholly. The Catholic Church has rejected political donations, while the Anglican Church has banned politics in the Church,” Bishop Onginjo said.

He said the Church is vulnerable because most churches depend on fundraising drives to survive, and this is a weakness the political class are exploiting.

Bishop Onginjo said that before the advent of multipartyism, the Church was the sole voice, but with multipartyism the space has been occupied by other players.

“The situation and circumstances have changed and put us in the position we are in currently. Politicians are using the Church wrongly. We must inject hygiene into our politics. What are we showing the younger generation? Some are losing faith in the Church,” he said.

Prof Kodia said the Church cannot isolate itself from politicians because politicians find their roots in the Church.

“My position is that when you are given an opportunity to greet people, it is not an opportunity to engage in politics,” he said.

Prof Kodia condemned the brown envelope fixation in the Church, which negates its actual calling and service.

“Do not receive such donations. I turned down Sh3 million, which was to be put into our account in the last general election. Money should not be used to silence the Church,” he said.

He said it was unfortunate that some church leaders take brown envelopes without disclosing them to the congregation and use the money for personal gain.

“Some church leaders take the envelope and do not disclose it to the Church and keep it for themselves. Love for money is a big problem. For some, the Church is a source and conduit for enrichment,” he said.

They said the Church must stand up to unite the country and discard the lust for brown envelopes.