By Team
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Committee will tomorrow converge in Kilifi in what insiders describe as a make-or-break moment for the party, as intense lobbying intensifies to avert any fallout.
Sources told Western Insight that the meeting’s main agenda is to discuss coalition arrangements with President William Ruto’s UDA ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, attempts to prevail upon ODM party leader Dr Oburu Odinga to postpone the meeting flopped after he was enraged by last week’s meeting between James Orengo, Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino, Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, and former Busia Governor Amos Wako on possible ways to end the fallout in the party.
Sources intimated that Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, who is also the Minority Whip in the National Assembly, unsuccessfully tried to prevail upon Oburu.
“Millie Odhiambo approached Dr Oburu to postpone the Central Committee meeting and allow members to develop common ground for the party and contain any fallout. But an unhappy and enraged Oburu did not heed the peace call,” sources told Western Insight.
In a significant move, ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga on Saturday met Mama Ida Odinga in what is viewed as a calculated move to heal the party.
Sources revealed that because of the sensitive nature of the discussion, Wanga and Mama Ida took over two hours walking around the compound and only returned to the house after concluding the meeting.
“Yes, it is true Governor Wanga phoned Mama Ida and Mama asked her to come home. They did not sit in the house but decided to walk around the compound. At one point, they were engrossed in the meeting and later embarked on chatting, laughing, and plucking flowers and leaves,” our sources revealed.
On Friday in Alego, Oburu said the party would soon establish a committee to spearhead coalition negotiations with President Ruto’s UDA party.
Dr Oburu said ODM would form a team to negotiate with President Ruto on the terms of a new coalition alliance, adding that first preference would be given to President Ruto.
“Now, as we approach 2027, we are not going to get into government through the back door. We are going to have a negotiated arrangement, which will be headed by me.
It will not be easy but a tough negotiation. We will get our share. 2026 is the year of negotiations for any arrangements.
Either we go into partnership with UDA or any other party.
We will soon establish a negotiation team. We will start negotiating with others because it is difficult for a party to go it alone without seeking the support of other parties.
The negotiations will start with our current partners in the broad-based arrangement. We shall only go to others if we do not agree,”he said.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi asked Oburu to invoke the party constitution to call a meeting to elect a team to spearhead the coalition talks.
“As the duly elected ODM party leader with all the powers conferred on you under the ODM Constitution, I want you, Dr Oburu, to invoke Article 16, Sub-Article 1(f) of the ODM Constitution and embark on serious negotiations on behalf of ODM with President William Ruto and the UDA for purposes of developing a pre-election coalition agreement.
We cannot afford to wait until 2027 to start planning for the 2027 elections. Those negotiations must commence now, and the person mandated by the party constitution is Dr Oburu.
That mandate is not shared with anybody else under the Act, and we expect Dr Oburu and the leadership, as you proceed with those engagements, to take into consideration the time factor,”he said.
Key Functions and Responsibilities
The functions and responsibilities of the ODM Central Committee include:
Strategic Planning and Policy: The committee meets regularly to deliberate on key party matters, national policy positions, and overall strategy. This includes shaping the party’s vision and ensuring policies align with its core values of social justice and democracy.
Internal Governance and Unity: A major responsibility is fostering unity among party organs and members, handling internal disputes, and ensuring discipline and proper order within the party in accordance with the ODM Constitution.
Elections and Nominations Oversight: The committee oversees the party’s election processes, including ratifying the reconstitution of bodies such as the National Elections Board (NEB) and the National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC). This includes:
Reviewing reports on appeals and results of grassroots elections.
Devolving election management to the county level for efficiency and credibility.
Setting timelines for major events such as the National Delegates Convention (NDC).
Political Engagements and Alliances: The committee discusses and determines the party’s position on national political matters, including forming coalitions or working relationships with other parties, such as the recent cooperation with the UDA administration on a 10-point agenda. It also forms technical teams to implement inter-party agreements.
Public and Member Engagement: The committee is involved in planning activities such as grassroots mobilisation, member recruitment drives, and anniversary celebrations to strengthen party structures and connect with the electorate. It also communicates the party’s official stance on national issues through press briefings.
Oversight and Accountability: It supports the strengthening of parliamentary and county assembly committees and advocates for good governance, accountability, and the proper implementation of devolved functions and resource allocation.
Risk Management (via a sub-committee): It authorises a Risk Management Committee, chaired by the party treasurer, to identify, assess, and mitigate risks, reporting back to the National Executive Committee (NEC).
