Gladys Wanga addresses ODM division claims amid faction wars
By Cynthia Lodite, February 24, 2026Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has dismissed claims that the ODM Party is divided, saying emerging factions will not polarise the political outfit.
Speaking on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Wanga, while insisting that the party is strong, assured ODM supporters that the party has more than one hundred members of Parliament; hence, it is stronger.
On her part, the Homa Bay Governor further dismisses individuals, saying that the party is slowly getting divided, noting that they are lying to netizens.
“Kuna wale wanasema chama cha chungwa kinasambaratika, chama cha ODM kiko imara tuko na wabunge zaidi ya mia moja katika chama chetu,” Wanga said.
“Kusema kwamba chama kimesambaratika hatusemi ukweli,” she added.
In addition, Wanga affirmed that the ODM party will take over the government or be part of a coalition that will form a government.
“Mwaka ujao chama cha chungwa ndio kitakua serikali ama itakua part of the coalition ambayo itakua ndani ya serikali,” she stated.
Wanga’s plea to ODM
Meanwhile, her remarks come just days after Wanga urged the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to move beyond opposition and aim for power in the 2027 elections.
Speaking to supporters at the Linda Ground Tours event in Bwiti, Lunga Lunga Constituency, Kwale County, on Saturday, February 14, 2026, Wanga said the party has spent two decades in opposition and will not accept remaining sidelined any longer.
“We have told our leader Dr Oburu Oginga, that we as a party have sat in opposition for 20 years, and come 2027, we do not want to stay in opposition anymore,” Wanga said.
She pushed for the party to either form the next government outright or join a ruling coalition.
“We want the ODM party to form the next government in 2027. We should be the government or part of the coalition that forms the government,” she added.
Parties with same ideology
Wanga also instructed Oburu Oginga, ODM’s acting leader, to engage in negotiations with parties that share the party’s policies, starting with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“We have told Dr Oburu to continue negotiations with parties that have similar policies to us. He should start negotiations with Honourable Ruto. And when we go there, we want to go as a party that has strength,” she said.
The remarks build on ODM’s recent efforts to strengthen ties with the government. Last year, several ODM members joined Ruto’s administration, taking up Cabinet posts. The move follows the death of ODM founder Raila Odinga, leaving Oburu Oginga to guide the party.
At a delegates meeting in Mombasa on February 12, 2026, Oburu made it clear the party would push for a significant role in power-sharing, specifically targeting the Deputy President position.