Suba North MP and National Assembly Minority Chief Whip Millie Odhiambo has delivered one of the strongest criticisms yet of Kenya’s broad-based government, saying the humiliating defeat suffered by President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election was a consequence of leaders becoming arrogant and disconnected from ordinary Kenyans.

Speaking at an event on Friday, July 17, Odhiambo said political leaders had ignored repeated warnings from within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the broad-based administration, choosing instead to take the public for granted.

“If we had listened, we would not have even lost Ol Kalou. We would not have lost Ol Kalou because one of the things that have been told is that we are taking the public for granted. We are very arrogant as leaders. We don’t listen to the people. We don’t know what people are going through. People are suffering,” she said.

Odhiambo, who serves as Minority Chief Whip in the National Assembly under the ODM-UDA broad-based arrangement, insisted that her participation in government would not stop her from speaking out whenever she believes leaders are going astray.

“I am in broad-based government as a member of ODM and as the Minority Chief Whip in Parliament. I am in broad-based government, but when there are bad things happening, I, Millie Odhiambo Mabona, as a person with a human rights background, cannot be quiet,” she said.

The veteran legislator added that ODM has values it must continue to defend despite working alongside the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“There are things that ODM as a party stands for, and as a founding member of ODM, I cannot allow us to do wrong things. I am in broad-based government, but I will still say the right things,” she said.

Ol Kalou delivered political shock

Odhiambo’s remarks come barely a day after the closely watched Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, widely viewed as the first major electoral contest since the formation of the broad-based government.

The seat became vacant following the death of former MP David Kiaraho.

The by-election ended in a landslide victory for Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Kamau Waweru, who defeated UDA’s Samuel Muchina Nyagah by a wide margin in what political observers have described as a significant setback for President William Ruto in the Mt Kenya region.

The outcome has triggered intense political debate, with several leaders interpreting the results as an early indication of shifting political loyalties ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Growing criticism within broad-based government

Odhiambo becomes the latest senior ODM leader to publicly express concern over the direction of the broad-based administration.

Her comments come amid growing public criticism over the rising cost of living, unemployment, political violence and allegations that leaders have become increasingly detached from the struggles facing ordinary Kenyans.

She argued that political leaders must abandon arrogance and reconnect with citizens if they hope to regain public trust.

According to the legislator, election victories can no longer be secured through political alliances alone but will depend on leaders listening to wananchi and responding to their concerns.