Alai: Winnie Odinga and Sifuna should leave ODM if they oppose the party
By Mabonga Makhanu, January 6, 2026Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has stated that if Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s stance is influenced by the support of the late former prime minister’s daughter, Winnie Odinga, in his continued criticism of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), both of them should be expelled from the party.
Speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Tuesday, January 6, 2025, Alai claimed that Sifuna, who is being considered for a possible removal from the ODM party’s secretary general position, is also opposed to the party’s political direction.
And if Winnie Odinga, who also seems opposed to ODM’s alliance with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), supports Sifuna, then both should be removed from the party.
Alai went on to argue that a careful assessment would reveal that he and other politicians supporting ODM’s alignment with UDA and backing President William Ruto’s 2027 election are the ones truly loyal to ODM and have the party’s best interests at heart, unlike Winnie Odinga and Sifuna.
“Kama dependency ya Sifuna ni kwamba Winnie anamsupport, tutasema yeye na Winnie watoke kwa chama. Wasipoangalia, watajua kwamba ODM inaishi kwa mioyo yetu,” Alai remarked.
Alai, who has recently not held back in criticising East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) lawmaker Winnie Odinga, continued to attack her, saying that whatever she says is not the final word of the party and that if she strays, she should be subjected to criticism like any other leader.
He further claimed that Winnie Odinga lacks the political maturity to advise the party on its direction.
“Maneno ya Winnie Odinga si kama Biblia, si gospel. Lazima pia yeye tumkashifu, na tumwambie kwamba hana uwezo na ukomavu wa kutuambia kuwa hii ndiyo njia sahihi,” he said.
Winnie’s speech in Mombasa
Alai also criticised Winnie Odinga for appearing to oppose her uncle Oburu Odinga’s leadership of ODM during the party’s 20th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa.
He argued that a politically mature leader would not publicly disagree with a family member’s leadership, noting that such actions demonstrate immaturity and make it difficult for him to take her seriously.
“Hata babangu mzazi siwezi kuenda kwa umma kumwambia sikubaliani na uongozi wako. Wanasiasa unajua kuna level ya privacy ya family ambayo unajaribu kushield kutoka kwa umma. Ilionyesha ukosefu wa ukomavu. Maneno mengine anasema bado haijinionyesha ukomavu wa kutosha nifanye nimchukulie serious,” Alai added.
Winnie’s deputy party leader appointment
This comes days after Makadara MP George Aladwa stated that he is pushing for Winnie Odinga to be appointed as one of ODM’s deputy party leaders.
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.