Alai faults ODM bonding meeting in Mombasa as wrong strategy
By Mustafa Juma, May 4, 2026Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai has criticised the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over its ongoing bonding meeting in Mombasa.
Taking to his official X account on Sunday, May 3, 2026, Alai termed the approach ineffective in addressing the party’s emerging internal challenges.
He argued that the retreat-style engagement does not adequately respond to the issues currently facing the party, suggesting that a different strategy is needed to resolve internal tensions.
“The ODM bonding meeting in Mombasa is a wrong strategy for solving emerging issues,” Alai stated.
ODM internal divisions
Alai’s remarks come at a time when ODM has been grappling with internal divisions and competing political narratives among its leaders.
The ongoing meeting in Mombasa is part of efforts by ODM leadership to foster unity and strengthen party cohesion ahead of upcoming political engagements.
ODM’s performance in future polls
Speaking during the opening of the ODM Party Leaders’ Retreat in Mombasa on Sunday, May 3, 2026, the Orange Party National Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor, Gladys Wanga, told the leaders present that all officeholders will carry responsibility if the party performs worse in the next general election.
Wanga said ODM had entered a difficult transition period and could no longer depend on one person to make key political decisions.
“This is the first retreat since the loss of our leader, Baba Raila Amollo Odinga,” Wanga said.
She told delegates that many in the party had relied on Raila for direction for years.
“We only said Baba will give us direction, and he did all the thinking, all the manoeuvring, all the negotiations, and all the sacrifices,” she said.
Wanga said the moment had now come for leaders across the party to take collective responsibility under the current leadership of Oburu Odinga.
She urged members to hold an honest discussion about where ODM had come from, where it stands now, and where it wants to go.
Wanga said the future of ODM should not be decided by a small group of leaders.
She referred to the party constitution and said the first value listed is the supremacy of party members.
“That means every voice, every person at the grassroots and in here, their voice must count in the direction that we take as a party,” she said.
She added that ODM’s main objective remained winning power through constitutional means and forming a government at both national and county levels.
According to Wanga, that goal can only be achieved if members work together.
Wanga then issued a direct warning to party officials.
“If in the coming election this party does worse than it is today, the blame will not be on any single individual. It will be on all of us who held positions during this trying moment of transition,” she said.