By Anderson Ojwang
Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o broke his silence and delivered a hard-hitting statement demanding that the party must remain true to its core values in the current context.
Nyong’o, a founder member and the first Secretary General of ODM, said the party must remain united and be ready to form the next government.
Nyong’o wrote on his social media platforms, “As a founding member of ODM and the Party’s pioneer Secretary General; policies and principles custodian, I urge for unity and mutual respect within the party ranks. The party leadership and members have to remain steadfast in the party’s core values of democracy, inclusivity and social justice for the people,”
From the content and context, Nyong’o delved into the current power struggle in the party, which pits Linda Ground, led by party leader Oburu Oginga and ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, among others, against Linda Wananchi, led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, James Orengo and Babu Owino, by making reference to the core values.
The differences in the party have been brought about by the proposed pre-election coalition pact with President William Ruto’s UDA party, which is supported by Oburu’s wing, while Sifuna’s faction is opposed to it, arguing that the party’s values are in contrast to those of UDA.
ODM is built on core values of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law within a pluralistic society. The party is committed to fostering national unity, peace, and stability, with a focus on upholding social justice and democratic ideals.
Key aspects of the ODM core values include:
Democratic Governance: Establishing a government based on democratic principles.
Rule of Law: Promoting and upholding the rule of law.
National Unity & Stability: Fostering peace, stability, and unity across the nation.
Social Justice: A commitment to serving the people through democratic ideals.
These principles guide the party’s actions, including its participation in broad-based government and its focus on, for example, strengthening the criminal justice system and supporting SMEs.
The democracy
The former ODM party leader, the late Raila Odinga, maintained that every party member has their constitutional and democratic right to express their view.
Raila, before his death, said in an NTV interview that he would support President William Ruto and a broad-based government up to 2027.
But a few days later, in a Citizen TV interview, Sifuna criticised the broad-based government and dismissed President Ruto’s administration, claiming the memorandum of understanding between ODM and UDA was dead.
The statement created a political storm in the party, and Raila, when he was in Kakamega for the party’s delegates’ meeting, came to the defence of Sifuna, saying the Secretary General was free to express himself and should not be vilified for exercising his constitutional right.
“It is not a must for people to have the same opinion, and we must defend the right to speak. If Sifuna has spoken, he has the right to do so, and if one feels they have a different opinion from what Sifuna is saying, then they should be free to say it. That is democracy,” Raila said then.
Oburu, after assuming the party leader position, reiterated Raila’s stand when he met Sifuna after a plot by Wanga and her team to sack him.
Oburu then described Sifuna as espousing the party’s democratic ideals.
“I met with my friend, Senator Edwin Sifuna, the Secretary General of the ODM Party, this morning. He remains a sober and principled voice, embodying the democratic ideals we believe in as a party,” he wrote on his X handle.
Oburu said the party was united and encouraged everyone to speak their mind, as that was the foundation upon which the party was formed.
“We are one. We are united as the ODM Party.
As a leader, I believe we must encourage everyone to speak their mind. Differences of opinion do not mean division. Great parties—like ODM—grow through robust debate and unique challenges.
That is where the progress and continuity of our party truly lie: in the hands of our young people.
Sisi ni chama cha mapinduzi. Tuko imara,” he wrote.
But he later changed tune and presided over the sacking of Sifuna at the National Executive Council (NEC) and replaced him with Catherine Omanyo.
“The minority will have their say, but the majority will have their way, and so those with dissenting voices must respect the wishes of the majority. Democracy must be guided,” he said.
Rule of law
Oburu, in total disregard of the rule of law, which is a key tenet of ODM values, maintained that Sifuna remains the court-recognised party Secretary General, while the Busia Woman Representative, Omanyo, was the party Secretary General.
Orengo said the sacking of Sifuna was unconstitutional and violated the party constitution, going against the party’s core value of respecting the rule of law.
“How can you remove a substantive party Secretary General while your appointment was an illegality? The plotters are in office illegally and do not have locus standi,” he said.
Social justice
In a recent explosive interview with Citizen TV, Winnie Odinga lamented what she termed as the desecration of the ODM creed.
Winnie first raised the red flag when she alluded to the fact that ODM was not formed from the comfort of pillow and bedroom talks, but from the streets, fighting for social justice, and that is what Raila stood for.
“I raised the statement out of concern that certain people and certain quarters are trying to achieve something which necessarily doesn’t stand for the creed of the ODM party, and perhaps want to take advantage of the situation for their own gain,” she said.
ODM as a movement, not a money machine
The party was formed as a movement to fight for social justice, and its activities were not based on financial might.
A former Deputy Party Leader expressed concern over how the love of money was destroying the party.
Oparanya recently said the love of money was destroying the party and leading to decisions that go against the grain.
“When I see what is currently happening in the ODM party, I was very close to the late Raila Amolo Odinga.
I am shocked. Money has destroyed the leaders. The leaders go to one place, say one thing, and shortly after say a contradictory one. Money has destroyed the minds of our leaders.
This was not predominant during Raila’s time. Raila had a stand, he said.
Sifuna recently 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 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 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,” he said.
Mama Ida Odinga recently appealed to the party leadership not to kill the party and asked the leadership to prioritise dialogue over wrangles to avoid disintegration and to preserve Raila’s legacy.
“It is my wish that we can preserve the party in his honour as a matter of service to our country. I want to appeal to those Baba left in the leadership of the party to reflect deeply and sincerely on his dreams for the party and for our country,” she said.
Nyong’o’s statement was pregnant with wisdom and called the factions to order and to return to ODM as a movement and not just a party.
