Manyora explains why Winnie Odinga’s ODM SDC appearance was a misstep
By Mabonga Makhanu, March 29, 2026Political analyst Herman Manyora has taken a swipe at East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga for skipping a Linda Mwananchi faction event and instead attending a rival gathering at Jamhuri Grounds, terming her move a mistake.
Speaking during his daily analysis on Saturday, March 29, 2026, the outspoken analyst warned that history would judge her harshly for being part of what he described as a forum that contributed to the destruction of her father’s party, the Orange Democratic Movement.
“Woe unto you if you are close to Raila Odinga and you witnessed the killing of ODM and Raila’s legacy.” Woe unto you if Raila had hopes in you.”
Manyora argued that Winnie’s attendance at the Special National Delegates Conference (NDC) was wrong, stating that it gave legitimacy to a flawed process. He noted that although she may argue her presence did not carry much weight and that she spoke about reconciliation, internal democracy, youth inclusion, and a new Kenya, her attendance in itself made a significant statement.
“Winnie Odinga attending the NDC was bad. (2:26) It was bad because she’s (2:32) making something bad get a semblance of being good. She’s giving legitimacy to a process that is flawed.”
Manyora explained that by attending a meeting he considered illegitimate, she effectively endorsed it. He pointed out that the NDC should have been convened by the party’s secretary general and attended by genuine delegates, which, according to him, was not the case.
He added that the absence of the secretary general, who is the custodian of the delegates’ list, raised questions about the legitimacy of those present, concluding that the meeting was irregular.
Raila’s replacement
The analyst further stated that Winnie was aware of attempts to quickly fill the leadership position left by Raila Odinga, who earlier questioned why the transition happened in haste, even before his body had been returned to the country.
She had questioned the urgency that led to Oburu Odinga assuming leadership and taking an oath of office, only for the same process to be revisited at the NDC.
Manyora also suggested that Winnie’s attendance implied approval of the ongoing changes within the party which she had earlier condemned, including the removal of certain leaders such as Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna from the SG role.
He argued that by being present, she appeared to support the manner in which leadership was being reorganised and how dissenting voices were being handled.
He further observed that although Winnie spoke about the need for democratic space, her participation in the meeting contradicted those ideals. Who claimed that key youthful leaders within the party had been sidelined, making her remarks on youth inclusion inconsistent with the events at the NDC.
According to Manyora, the developments at the conference demonstrated a lack of tolerance for dissent among the party leadership. He stated that figures such as James Orengo, Edwin Sifuna, and Babu Owino were among those being pushed aside, which he said contradicted the message of inclusivity being promoted.
“You are sitting and dining and whining with the people who have shown they have no time for dissent. No time for Orengo, Sifuna, Babu, Caleb, or Osotsi.”
He added that Winnie’s remarks about a new political direction could not align with the manner in which the process was being conducted, arguing that a new beginning could not emerge from what he described as a flawed foundation.
Herman Manyora went on to warn Winnie Odinga that she would be judged harshly if Raila Odinga had placed his hopes in her and if she had been close to him yet witnessed what he described as the decline of the Orange Democratic Movement and its legacy.
Raila’s hope in Winnie
Manyora argued that, in leadership and even within families, it is natural for individuals to look ahead and identify someone who can carry on their vision in their absence. He noted that, at times, fathers place great hope in their daughters, drawing a parallel to Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, where the character Okonkwo is portrayed as having moments when he wished his daughter Ezima had been a son.
Herman Manyora went on to take issue with Winnie Odinga, stating that she had disappointed the movement and, in his view, diminished the stature of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga family name.
“So did the men of us, and so did many of the followers of ODM, and therefore this is to tell Winnie (14:22), you’ve been a disappointment to your father and to those who believed in you and (14:30) believed in your father. You’ve been a disappointment to the movement. You’ve been a disappointment to (14:38) the struggle, but above all, you brought to an end the big name of the Jaramogi family.”
Winnie Odinga, despite earlier appearing to align with the team associated with Edwin Sifuna, later came out fully and joined her uncle at the SDC.
Winnie’s Deputy Party leader push
Recently, there were proposals to have her name forwarded for the position of deputy party leader by George Aladwa after she was installed to replace her father as delegate number one in Nairobi. However, Gladys Wanga later dismissed the claims, stating that the party had not received any such proposal, but added that whenever it is formally presented, the relevant party organs will act on it.