Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has reflected on his time as the ODM national chairman, admitting that maintaining discipline within the Orange party was a difficult task.

Mbadi, the longest-serving ODM member during Baba’s era, admitted that he faced a tough task keeping the party members in check.

Maintaining order

“As chair of the party, you are in charge of the most difficult task: that of maintaining discipline. For almost half of our members, indiscipline is part of our lives. It is how this party has been built. In ODM, if you try to bring too many orders into ODM, we cannot move,” he stated.

The CS, however, appealed to the party officials and members to chart a way forward by submitting to the authority of its leaders.

According to Mbadi, ODM surmounted various challenges just by listening to the directives issued by its leader.

“We could disagree and grumble, but the moment the party leader spoke, that became the rule. I want us to continue with the same spirit, that we can disagree and argue, but when the party leader, Oburu, speaks as our party leader, let us listen to him,” he added.

Mbadi’s remarks come after Winnie Odinga also weighed in on the future of the ODM party, dismissing reports of potential fractures on Friday, November 14, 2025.

The daughter of the late Raila Odinga described them as meaningless noise.

“Nimesikia mazungumzo ya mgawanyiko wa chama cha ODM kugawanyika hiyo wasahau, ni kelele za chura,” she said, comparing the chatter to the croaking of frogs.

The legislator cautioned against attempts to splinter the party, warning that opportunistic manoeuvres would fail.

Split in ODM?

“If anyone is thinking like that, wajue ya kwamba ODM tunajenga na hatuna mchezo,” she stated, stressing that the party is focused on building and not playing games.

She further exposed attempts by some to undermine the party through covert actions, saying, “Naskia kuna wengine wanatembea na sisi mchana na usiku wanajaribu kuuza chama, hawatafaulu. ODM is not for sale!”

Winnie also rejected the notion of backroom deals, stating, “ODM was not born in a bedroom, not made in a bedroom, so its future cannot be discussed in pillow talks.”

“ODM was born from protest, raised in resistance, and it still belongs to the people,” she told thousands of supporters gathered for the anniversary event.