Suba South Member of Parliament (MP) Caroli Omondi has claimed that the late Raila Odinga had distanced himself from certain leaders who joined the so-called broad-based political arrangement, claiming they acted contrary to his wishes.

Speaking on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, during an interview with a local TV station, Omondi accused some politicians of invoking Raila’s name for convenience in defending their participation in the broad-based formation.

“People are putting words into the mouth of a dead man for convenience,” Omondi said.

“There are people who claim they are in broad-based because of Raila. They went to the broad-based against Raila’s wishes when he was in Dubai, when he directed that they should not join the broad-based.”

Raila snubs broad-based proponents

Omondi further claimed that upon returning to the country, Raila declined to endorse the move and distanced himself from those involved.

“When Raila came back, he refused to meet them at the airport. Raila issued a statement that they went in their personal capacity,” he claimed.

According to Omondi, relations between Raila and some of the leaders had deteriorated significantly prior to his death.

“Some of them, the time Baba was dying, he was not talking to them,” he added.

ODM rift

ODM has been engaged in internal wrangles since the death of its founding leader, Raila Odinga.

Embattled ODM Party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has previously 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 Bondo home in Siaya County 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.

”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.