ODM announces dates for western leaders regional meeting

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has announced a meeting for the party’s western regional leaders set to be held on Sunday, February, 9, 2025.
The meeting set for Kakamega town will bring together leaders elected under the Chungwa party hailing from the six counties of the western region, according to a statement from the party.
“The Western Kenya Regional Leaders meeting will be held this Sunday 9th February 2025 in Kakamega town. This meeting will bring together all elected leaders and five party officials from all the Branches in Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and Trans Nzoia counties, a statement from the party read.
The announcement comes as the party stares at a potentially simmering discord from within.
Raila- Ruto pact
The rift stemming from party leader Raila Odinga’s move to join ranks with William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government. The former Prime minister is also engaged in the race for the African Union Commission chairperson set for February.
The development has seemingly divided the party with most of the leaders left at a crossroads over the party’s stance and political direction.

The new-found association saw ODM secure four slots in Ruto’s cabinet with the western region gaining the Cooperatives and MSMs docket that went to Wycliffe Oparanya, a former governor of Kakamega and party’s regional kingpin.
Party changes
Vihiga senator Godfrey Ososti was named among the party’s deputy leaders after the party’s central management committee meeting held on Friday, August, 9, 2024.
While section of western leaders have joined the party’s leader in support the government, others have maintained their dissident stance and attacks to the Kenya Kwanza regime.
Senator Edwin Sifuna and Saboti MP Caleb Amisi are among the vocal politicians who have sustained attacks on the current regime, pointing fingers at the increased abduction cases and human rights abuses perpetrated by the government.
The party’s secretary general and Nairobi’s senator has insisted on upholding the party’s core identity and values.
Party identity
He disclosed that Odinga had tasked him with preserving ODM’s identity as a symbol of hope for Kenyans, regardless of the outcome of Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.
“When you decided to run for the AUC, you told me as the Secretary General of ODM that we must retain the identity of our political party as a beacon of hope for Kenyans. This is what I aspire to do, whether you succeed or not,” Sifuna asserted.