Osotsi vows to protect ODM from Ruto amid takeover rumours
By Kenneth Mwenda, February 8, 2026Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi has vowed to defend the party from what he described as President William Ruto’s attempts to take control.
Speaking during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Busia on February 8, 2026, Osotsi urged supporters to reject any alliance with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“Here in Busia, we have come out to protect the ODM party,” Osotsi began. He accused Ruto of trying to seize ODM through the back door.
“How many oppose this thing of Ruto?” he asked the crowd, prompting loud cheers.
He dismissed suggestions that ODM should merge with UDA, comparing it to a forced marriage.
“They tell us to go into marriage with UDA. Do you like to go into marriage with UDA?” he asked. The crowd roared back in rejection, and he repeated, “We say no, UDA no.”
Osotsi also countered comments from ODM Leader Oburu Odinga, who had suggested the party could not produce a presidential or deputy presidential candidate.
“I heard Mr Oburu saying that we in ODM cannot produce a president or deputy,” Osotsi said. He named several party leaders to show strength. “Isn’t Sifuna enough? Isn’t Babu enough? Orengo isn’t enough? Caroli isn’t enough? Even Osotsi is enough.”
As a leader from western Kenya, Osotsi criticised elected officials who skipped the rally out of fear.
“I want to tell our leaders, whom we elected as MPs and governors, that others are afraid to come here because Ruto has threatened them,” he said. “I tell them, be men enough.”
Osotsi hits economic exploitation
Osotsi highlighted the hardships faced by the Luhya community under Ruto’s government.
“We Luhya have suffered a lot,” he said. He accused the president of urging support while exploiting the region. “Ruto tells us to support him. And he has bought all our sugar companies,” Osotsi claimed. He also mentioned gold discoveries in Kakamega County.
“Even the gold we discovered in Kakamega, he also wants to take it by force.”
Hundreds of ODM loyalists attended the rally, waving party flags and chanting against UDA. Busia, a border town with deep ODM roots, has long backed Raila Odinga’s opposition politics. Osotsi’s words tapped into local frustration over economic neglect, including collapsed sugar factories and high youth unemployment.
Osotsi’s remarks echoed similar warnings issued by Siaya Governor James Orengo at the same Busia rally. Orengo told supporters that ODM must stand alone and reject any forced coalition with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
He said the party must remain independent and prepare to form the next government on its own terms.
“Nobody will force us to enter into a government we do not agree with,” Orengo said, adding that ODM must field its own presidential candidate in the 2027 General Election.