Makadara Member of Parliament (MP) George Aladwa has proposed that Winnie Odinga, the daughter of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, be nominated as one of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party Leaders.

Speaking during an interview with a local media station on Saturday, December 3, 2025, the outspoken lawmaker said that since Raila Odinga was an ODM delegate from Nairobi County, he is pushing for Winnie Odinga to take over the position her father held before his demise.

Aladwa explained that once Winnie is installed as a Nairobi County ODM delegate, he will use that opportunity to propose her nomination as one of the party’s Deputy Party Leaders, bringing the total number of ODM deputy party leaders to four.

“Mimi nilikuwa nimependekeza hapo awali tukielekea NDC, kwa sababu Raila Odinga alikuwa delegate wa Nairobi, Winnie Odinga aingie hapo awe delegate wa Nairobi, na tupropose deputy party leaders wanne, Winnie akiwa mmoja wao,” Aladwa said.

Odinga family’s dominance in ODM

On whether Winnie’s nomination could spark friction within ODM, given that the party leadership already has several members of the Odinga family, Aladwa dismissed such concerns.

Currently, ODM is led by Party Leader Oburu Odinga, while his sister Ruth Odinga, who also serves as the Kisumu Woman Representative, sits in the party’s Central Management Committee (CMC).

Aladwa defended the move, stating that Winnie, Oburu, and Ruth are all independent individuals, and their family ties should not bar any of them from leadership positions within the party.

“Hakutakuwa na shida kwa sababu Ruth Odinga si Winnie Odinga, Winnie Odinga si Oburu Odinga. Hao ni watu tofauti kwa jina na maumbile. Ni vile wametoka kwa familia moja, na hiyo haiwezi kuzuia mtu kushika kiti chochote kwa sababu tu ni wa familia moja,” he added.

Rift in ODM

This proposal comes amid growing rifts and verbal exchanges among top ODM leaders over the party’s political direction, particularly on whether ODM should support President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.

Even the current party leader, Oburu Odinga, appears to be at odds with ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, with the two seemingly not reading from the same script.

Aladwa urged the two leaders to resolve their differences internally, noting that both Oburu and Sifuna are members of the Central Management Committee (CMC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC).

According to Aladwa, the two leaders should engage in dialogue and find a lasting solution to their disagreements.

Sifuna-Oburu stand-off

His remarks come days after Edwin Sifuna publicly warned Oburu Odinga against being influenced by ODM members aligned with the broad-based government.

Sifuna urged the party leader to make independent decisions but only after consulting widely with ODM members, including grassroots supporters and delegates.

In response, Oburu Odinga defended himself, stating that effective leadership of ODM cannot be achieved without involving other party members.

He also warned ODM officials against speaking in different voices, especially after the party has already agreed on a specific political direction.