Osotsi exposes internal ODM power struggle after Raila’s death
By Mustafa Juma, April 25, 2026Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has made explosive claims of internal power struggles with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), claiming backroom deals, and attempts to sideline key party leaders in the aftermath of what he described as a succession vacuum following Raila Odinga’s exit.
Speaking during a charged Linda Mwananchi rally at Mumboha Stadium in Luanda, Vihiga County, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, Osotsi painted a picture of intense internal lobbying, accusing unnamed party figures of convening secret meetings and attempting to manipulate ODM’s leadership structure at a critical moment.
According to Osotsi, the said manoeuvres took place shortly after the announcement of Raila’s death, which he claimed triggered a scramble for control within the party’s top ranks.
ODM party leader position
He claimed that a late-night meeting was convened at State House involving senior political actors, where decisions were made to influence the direction of ODM’s interim leadership arrangements.
He further alleged that the meeting resulted in a decision to sideline him from consideration for the party leader position, despite what he described as a constitutional entitlement under ODM’s internal structure.
“Masaibu yangu ilianza ile siku Mzee Baba Raila Odinga alikufa. Kwasababu hiyo siku vile ilipatikana kuwa Mzee Raila amekufa kule India, na mnajua mimi nimekuwa Deputy party leader wa ODM number moja kwa sababu nilichukua kiti ya Oparanya; Abdluswamad akachukua nafasi ya Joho, huyo Simba Arati sijui alichukua kiti ya nani. Lakini kwa sababu sisi jamii ya waluhya ndio tuko na watu wengi na kura mingi ndani ya ODM, hiyo kitu baada ya Raila kutoka ilifaa ikuwe ya Godfrey Osotsi,” Osotsi said.
“Lakini Kasongo aliita mkutano pale State House usiku kama Sifuna hayuko kwasababu alikuwa ameenda kuchukua mwili wa Baba kule India; wakakutana, wakapanga njama, wakasema, ‘Osotsi, hatuwezi tukampatia hicho kiti.’ Abdluswamad pia ati hawawezi wakampatia, wakampatia Oburu. Wakaitisha mkutano asubuhi mapema kama Baba ako kwa ndege analetwa, saa kumi na mbili wakasema ati wamepitisha Oburu ndio atakuwa acting party leader.”
He further claimed that financial inducements were offered to influence his political stance, claims that could not be independently verified at the time of publication.
Sifuna’s betrayal
Osotsi went ahead to claim that there was an attempt to convince him to betray the then ODM secretary general, the Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna, with a promise that he would take over the seat, but he refused.
“Na katiba ya chama inasema kama party leader hayuko, one of the deputies anakuwa party leader. Yule ambaye alipropose Oburu alikuwa ni Abdluswamad ambaye pia ni deputy party leader. Alafu ule alimuunga mkono alikuwa ni Arati ambaye pia ni deputy party leader. Sasa kuanzia hiyo siku nikaanza kupata taabu. Wananitumia watu ati mimi niache kuongea mambo ya Kasongo, mimi nikakataa. Nikasema Raila aliniambia kwamba Ile mkataba ya point kumi lazima itekelezwe. Alafu baadae wakaanza kusumbua Sifuna. Wakasema Sifuna lazima aende,” he said.
“Nilisimama imara nikasema Sifuna ni kijana mluhya kama mimi, na senator kama mimi na kwa waluhya tuko na senator wawili pekee yake kwa uongozi wa ODM, Sifuna na Osotsi, nikasema sitasaliti Sifuna. Nikasema Sifuna akienda mimi pia nitaenda. Sasa wakaanza kutupiga vita, na baadae wakaniita wakaniambia kwamba kwa sababu hii mchezo imekuwa kwamba ukitaka kuweza mluhya tumia ndugu yake kumpiga. Wakaniambia ati wanipatie kiti ya secretary general ODM mimi nikawaambia sitachukua kiti ya secretary general, mimi ni deputy party leader, mkitaka mpatie mtu mwingine mwenye ako tayari kusaliti Sifuna. Nikakataa, baadae wakasema ati wanipatie pesa nianze kuimba mambo ya Kasongo, nikakataa.”
Osotsi also claimed that certain ODM-affiliated leaders in Vihiga County had shifted allegiance under political pressure, alleging that some had been “compromised” to align with rival political formations.
He, however, insisted that he remained one of the few leaders in the region resisting what he termed external political influence.
“Hapa Vihiga County, viongozi ambao mlichagua wamenunuliwa na Kasongo. Wabunge, governor, na wengine, wameenda huko. Ati sasa wanasema ati Osotsi pekee ndo amekataa. Ati wanasema Vihiga yote lazima ikuwe UDA. Ati mtu ambaye anasumbu hao ni Godfrey Osotsi kwasababu amekataa mambo yao,” he claimed.