The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) 20th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa over the weekend turned into a heated argument in front of the public, revealing the deep ideological divisions that threaten to tear the party apart as it faces the post-Raila Odinga era. Instead of celebrating the party’s heritage, the occasion ended up highlighting the bitter fight of two sides which opposed each other not only ideologically but also in terms of the party’s future and 2027 electoral strategy of which one of them would be the continuation of the “Broad-Based Government” cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration.
A faction comprising newly elected Party Leader Dr. Oburu Oginga, Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, and MP Junet Mohamed is inclined towards realism. They advocate for the extension of the collaboration, arguing that ODM is a party that was designed to be in power, most of the time by way of forming strategic alliances, and that it should not be a permanent opposition. Mohamed representing this side of the debate, declared: “Governments in this country are formed through coalitions. ODM was not formed as an NGO. We don’t want to be in the streets anymore.” The opinion, however, was met with opposition vehemently and vociferously.
Opposition to this viewpoint was led by Siaya Governor James Orengo and Secretary General Edwin Sifuna. They are advocating for a firm and clear return to a combative opposition stance. In his speech Orengo, attacked the cooperation camp exhaustively, warning that being too closely aligned with the government would not only result in ODM losing its historical identity as a voice of dissent and constitutional reform but also become the silent partner in power. Sifuna also supported this idea by saying that the party has more than enough qualified leaders to present its own presidential candidate in 2027 and should not be “beggars” who depend on the ruling party.
Besides a political rivalry, there is also a quarrel between the founder’s family. Winnie Odinga, the late Raila Odinga’s daughter, openly wondered if the current leadership could handle a government relationship as delicate as the one her father had with them and asked for a National Delegates Convention so that members could decide the way of the party. The infighting was temporarily put aside at the Founders’ Dinner which was attended by President Ruto who encouraged the party to be a uniting force for the nation. The mood at the event, however, suggested that ODM is facing a defining moment where it has to reconcile its thirst for power with its political heritage if it wants to survive the upcoming political cycle in time.
