By Anderson Ojwang
Kakamega County could be turning out to be the next battleground as President William Ruto held a consultative meeting with legislators from the county.
The meeting comes hot on the heels after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) faction led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna announced the Linda Mwananchi tour of Kakamega this Saturday.
After successful Busia and Kitengela Linda Mwananchi tours and emerging pressure from Kakamega, the team comprising Siaya Governor James Orengo, Babu Owino, Caroli Omondi, Geoffrey Osotsi, Caleb Amisi among others yielded to the demand for what is billed as the mother of all rallies.
It will mark the return of their son, after he was sacked by the ODM National Governing Council but got a reprieve from the Political Parties Tribunal Court.
The meeting of President Ruto with the legislators sent a mixed signal on the political terrain, coming shortly after a section of MPs from the county sided with Sifuna over his sacking.
President Ruto on his X handle said he engaged MPs from Kakamega County at State House, Nairobi on matters of development.
“Our discussions centered on accelerating development projects, including affordable housing, modern markets, road upgrades, the expansion of Kakamega Airport, completion of Bukhungu Stadium, and deepening access to electricity and water, among others.
We undertake to work with all leaders, irrespective of their political persuasions, to move our country forward and leave no one behind,” he wrote.
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi said the Linda Mwananchi tour is scheduled for this Saturday and urged the Luhya community to turn up in large numbers.
He wrote on his X handle, “Mbale Town and Kakamega Town mko tayari. Saturday 21st February 2026. Kenya needs renaissance.”
And on President Ruto’s meeting with MPs from the county, Amisi asked whether the political pressure was increasing or decreasing on President Ruto.
He wrote on his X handle, accompanied by a photo of President Ruto with the MPs, “Does pressure increase or decrease?”
Over the weekend, Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera supported ODM Secretary Edwin Sifuna, saying his removal was unfair, unconstitutional and that he was not given the opportunity to defend himself.
“As a founder member of the Party, I have today made it clear that ODM must love its ideals including promoting democracy and espousing fairness. As clearly demonstrated, ODM NEC did not give Edwin Sifuna, the Secretary General, a fair hearing as provided for in our Constitution. On behalf of the genuine Kakamega leadership of ODM, we find the decision of NEC unfair and unconstitutional,” he wrote on his Facebook handle.
Butere MP Tindi Mwale said the State House meeting was developmental in nature and was aimed at accelerating service delivery.
He wrote on his Facebook page, “Joined my colleagues, leaders from Kakamega County, in candid and constructive discussions concerning development with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
The meeting focused on matters of national importance with particular emphasis on ongoing and proposed development projects and programs in Kakamega, as well as strategies to accelerate transformation and strengthen service delivery in the region.”
The Linda Mwananchi tour comes at a time when the ODM county branch leadership is divided into two camps, with one led by Governor Ferdinand Barasa while the other is led by Nabii, who enjoys the support of Cabinet Secretary Wycliff Oparanya.
Recently, Oburu found himself in a delicate balancing act and, to save face, he juggled between the two parallel Linda Ground rallies in the county.
In a delicate balancing act, Oburu was forced to attend two parallel ODM delegates’ rallies in the county, one organized by Cabinet Secretary Wycliff Oparanya and his allies led by Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, who claims the county chairmanship. This was at Mobole Primary School grounds in Butere Sub-County.
From Butere, Oburu found himself in Kakamega where Governor Ferdinand Barasa was holding a parallel Linda Ground delegates’ meeting.
Interestingly, Oparanya accompanied Oburu to the venue and left immediately before the Siaya Senator could introduce him to the crowd.
When Oburu spoke in Kakamega he said, “I was invited to Butere and I went to eat breakfast. But when I reached there I found people saying they were the bona fide delegates.
We spoke and addressed them because rightly they are our people. I was with Oparanya, can you see him around so that we can resolve this matter? Is Oparanya around? He left by chopper.
We want one Kakamega. I have spoken with Chairman Barasa. He has no problem and he wants a united Kakamega,” he said.
But Oparanya posted on his X handle, “I was honored to host the ODM Party Leader, Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga, alongside other national leaders, during the ODM delegates’ consultative forum held at Mabole Primary School grounds in Butere Sub-County, Kakamega County.
The consultative forum brought together party leadership and delegates for open engagement, reflection, and dialogue on issues that matter to the people and the future of inclusive development.”
But Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma, when he took the podium, moved straight to the county party leadership, saying Governor Barasa was the duly recognized party chairman.
“The chairman of Kakamega County ODM is Governor Ferdinand Barasa. You can see we have the party’s Executive Director, Mr. Odiwuor Ongwen, Deputy Party Leader Kisii Governor Simba Arati, Director of Elections Mr. Junet Mohammed and the party National Chairman Governor Gladys Wanga. This makes it clear who the party chairman is,” he said.
ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohammed declared that according to the records with the Elections Board, Barasa was the Kakamega County ODM chairman.
“I want to make a clarification on behalf of the party. ODM, I am the Director of Elections. In the ODM books, the chairman is Ferdinand Barasa. That is the position. I know there is a dispute but it will be listened to,” he said.
He said the matter was discussed at the party’s Central Committee and resolved that Barasa was the chairman.
“Those on the other side are also ODM members. They are our people. We must run the party from a true position. This matter was discussed in the Central Committee and it was resolved that the Elections Board had declared Barasa as the chairman,” he said.
Oparanya lamented how the insatiable love for money was destroying the party and going against the grain and principles of the founder leader, the late Raila Amolo Odinga.
“First I want to tell Kenyans, we are ODM members and we will remain in ODM.
Lakini nikiona ile inaendela kwa ODM na mimi nimekuwa karibu sana na mheshimiwa Marehemu Raila Amolo Odinga (When I see what is currently happening in ODM party, I was very close to the late Raila Amolo Odinga),” he said.
Kakamega Linda Mwananchi will be a defining moment in Luhya politics as we head to the next general elections.
