Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has weighed in on the ongoing turmoil within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, describing the party’s current struggles as a natural phase following the exit of its long-time leader, Raila Odinga.

Speaking on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, during an interview with one of the local TV stations, Atwoli likened the situation to a family adjusting after the departure of a strong patriarch.

“They can still salvage ODM. What is happening is, when a strong man leaves the home, the home cannot be the same again. There is always someone who works like a glue, trying to put things together,” Atwoli said.

According to the veteran trade unionist, the absence of Raila Odinga, whom he described as the unifying force within ODM, has inevitably exposed internal differences that had long been managed through his authority, experience, and political gravitas.

Atwoli noted that ODM must now endure what he termed “teething problems” as it transitions into a post-Raila era.

Atwoli backs Oburu Oginga

Despite the visible cracks, Atwoli expressed confidence in the party’s current leadership, firmly backing ODM party leader Oburu Oginga to steady the ship and guide the movement forward.

“ODM, in the absence of Raila Odinga, they have got to undergo all those teething problems until they reach somewhere and settle. But I think ODM is the right hand, with Oburu Odinga at the helm,” he said.

Sifuna on ODM differences

The ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has since opened up on the reasons why ideological differences in the political outfit often spill into the public.

Speaking while marking what would have been the late ODM leader Raila Odinga’s 81st birthday at his Karen home on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the Nairobi Senator said sometimes it gets hot, and as human nature dictates, it leads to the explosion of emotions that contribute to the public spat as it is being witnessed.

Sifuna has been engaging in a war of words with a section of ODM leaders, among them Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed, on matters of ODM’s future heading into the 2027 general election and the current broad-based government formation between the party and President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza regime.

”The only reason sometimes it spills out, we are also human beings. Sometimes mambo inachemkanga na ni mbaya saa ingine. Mimi nakumbuka, Baba used to consult everyone,” Sifuna said.

Following the internal wrangles rocking ODM, Sifuna has vowed to keep Raila Odinga’s promise of not wrecking the party he founded 20 years ago.

”As I said at Mzee’s burial, it will not be me to wreck Mzee’s party, it will not be Sifuna. I made that promise to Mzee, and I want to repeat it here. I want to tell you, there is no one in ODM, it doesn’t matter how many times or how badly you have insulted me, there is no one in ODM I will not sit down with. You have asked us to sit and talk. I am very prepared; it doesn’t matter what has happened between us. I am going to extend that olive branch,” Sifuna added.