Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kaluma has acknowledged a rift in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party that has led to the emergence of two factions.

Taking to his official X account on Sunday, February 23, 2025, the lawmaker stated that the division in the Orange party is on the strategy to capture power.

According to Kaluma, the main point of disagreement and division between the apparent ODM antagonists is on who the party should join hands with for a possible coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“There is no division in @TheODMparty on principle, but on the strategy to capture power. All members agree that ODM must be strong and must field candidates, including a presidential candidate, in all future elections.

“The members of @TheODMparty also know and agree that it is near impossible and impracticable for a single political party to win elections in this multi-ethnic Kenya and that political parties have to go into coalition to win elections and to govern the country. And this is the point of disagreement and division between the apparent ODM antagonists,” Kaluma stated.

Kaluma on ODM factions

The lawmaker went ahead to claim that one faction of ODM believes that the party should enter into a coalition with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s team consisting of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) Eugene Wamalwa to remove President William Ruto from power, while another faction believes politics is much more than the pursuit of revenge and that Gachagua is a tribalist recently impeached for preaching ethnic and regional exclusion of Kenyans.

He further notes that the group opposing association with Gachagua is preferring working with President Ruto.

Moreover, Kaluma notes that each faction is pushing hard to have Raila Odinga, the ODM party leader, on their side.

“One side believes ODM should enter into a coalition with the Gachagua-led coalition consisting of Gachagua, Kalonzo, Eugine Wamalwa, Natembeya, and Matiang’i to remove President @WilliamsRuto from power and enable Gachagua to have his revenge against Ruto. The other side believes politics is much more than the pursuit of revenge and that Gachagua is a tribalist recently impeached for preaching ethnic and regional exclusion of Kenyans, especially members of the ODM Party,” Kaluma wrote on X.

“To this group, the ODM party, which is founded on social justice—equity, equality, inclusion, the rule of law, and constitutionalism—will associate with President Ruto but not Gachagua were a choice to be made between the two for a coalition arrangement. No doubt, each side is doing all it can to pull Prime Minister Raila Odinga to its side.”

There is no division in @TheODMparty on principle, but on the strategy to capture power.
All members agree that ODM must be strong and must field candidates, including presidential candidate, in all future elections.
The members of @TheODMparty also know and agree that it is near…

— Hon. George Peter Kaluma, CBS. MP. (@gpdkaluma) February 23, 2025

Rift in ODM

Kaluma’s remarks come just a day after Makadara MP George Aladwa accused ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna of working with Gachagua, warning that he could be kicked out of the ODM SG position soon.

Speaking on Saturday, February 22, Aladwa said Sifuna’s days in the ODM party are numbered, noting that he would be ejected like his predecessor Ababu Namwamba.

“Nataka kuwarn huyo Sifuna ambaye anajiita Secretary General wa ODM, tushakuwa na masecretary general wengi, yeye sio wa kwanza. Ababu alienda. Ata yeye ataenda vile Ababu alienda…..Nataka kuambia Sifuna, wewe Seneta, siku zako za kwenda zinakaribia, na the same same Sifuna ndio yeye anatumiwa na Gachagua. Ata kwa impeachment ya Gachagua kwa senate alileta kisirani. Alipiga tu kura ya impeachment shingo upande,” Aladwa stated.

Aladwa further claimed that Sifuna has joined Gachagua’s faction and that he is being fronted for a Nairobi gubernatorial seat in 2027.

“Na tunajua sai yeye ndio candidate wa Gachagua na hiyo team wa hapa governor seat. Na tunajua hata last week but one amekuwa na Gachagua na Kalonzo na Waititu kwa kanisa huko Kawangware. Tunajua alishatoka ODM, awache kudanganya watu ati yeye ni secretary general,” Aladwa claimed.