Senator Joe Nyutu of Murang’a County has raised fresh attacks on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), claiming that the party is grappling with internal issues of democracy following what he claims is the premature appointment of Senator Oburu Oginga to the leadership post.

Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Monday, April 27, 2026, Nyutu said that Oburu was ‘hand-picked even before Baba was laid to rest’, a statement that has sparked a new debate in the political circles about succession politics in the ODM after the demise of the party’s founder.

“The problem that we have in ODM, in my view, is that Oburu was hand-picked even before Baba was laid to rest. If ODM is a party that champions democracy and human rights, then I think there is a problem. You can’t just be thrust as a leader on people,” said Nyutu.

The senator also cited the political mobilisation that is happening under the tag of ‘Linda Mwananchi’ with leaders including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi. Public response to such events, he said, is a clear sign of the shifting political base of the party and the opposition in general.

“See the sort of crowds Linda Mwananchi is attracting. Crowds are a measure of support,” he said.

Nyutu’s comments come at a time when ODM is grappling with succession issues and broader opposition dynamics, with different factions increasingly flexing their muscles in the lead-up to future elections.

Linda Mwananchi accuses ODM’s Oburu of betrayal

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing renewed internal turbulence after the Linda Mwananchi faction accused party leader Oburu Oginga of betrayal and vowed to field a presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.

The faction, which claims to be the true custodian of ODM’s founding ideals, made the declaration during a heated political meeting in Vihiga County on Saturday, intensifying an already fragile party unity.

Speaking to supporters in Vihiga County on Saturday, April 25, 2026, honchos allied to Linda Mwananchi dismissed ongoing efforts to initiate cooperation talks between ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), warning that such moves would amount to ideological surrender.

“Kila mtu anasema kitu Baba (Raila Odinga) aliwaambia kwa simu. Baba hadharani alisema, ‘Who has told you? Oburu, who has told you?’ Hatuwezi kuungana na mtu ambaye maadili yake hayafanani na sisi. Sisi ndio chama cha ugatuzi, hatuwezi tembea safari na watu kama UDA,” Sifuna said.

On his part, Siaya Governor James Orengo escalated the political rhetoric further, openly declaring the faction’s ambition to reclaim control of ODM and position itself for national leadership.

“Tumesema kwamba Linda Mwananchi ndio vuguvugu kubwa katika Kenya hii, and we must produce a presidential candidate. Hawaezi kuuza chama cha Raila Odinga, tuko hapo kuhakikisha chama iko imara na Kasongo anaenda nyumbani,” Orengo declared.

The faction also called for heightened political tolerance, accusing state actors of targeting dissenters within ODM and attempting to weaken internal opposition.