Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Vice Chairman Otiende Amollo has chided a section of party officials, warning that they risk rendering their party powerless through reckless speech and constant references to being in the broad-based government.

Speaking in his Luo dialect on Saturday, November 29, 2025, Amollo urged party members to maintain their values within the broad-based government, stressing that they must ensure their relevance is protected.

Positions in govt

The Rarieda lawmaker also criticised the constant references to being in a broad-based government, emphasising that most of those making such claims had never even spoken to Raila Odinga.

“We have fewer positions in the government than some other regions. One community even has more cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries than we do. They even have the deputy president position. Have you ever heard them constantly saying they are in government? When we keep saying every time that we are in government, it diminishes our value,” he stated.

The Rarieda MP further stated that ODM, by virtue of its numerical strength, must change its approach.

“You have to wait to be called upon and prove your value. We have not refused to be part of the government, but we must maintain dignity and strategic restraint,” he said.

According to Omollo, ODM party members must desist from perpetually reminding everyone that they are in government and instead focus on proving their worth through performance and influence.

The vice chairman argued that this is the only way the party can maintain its relevance in the coalition and secure the respect and value it deserves.

Reducing ODM value

He also addressed Raila Odinga’s last-minute directive, clarifying that the veteran leader’s decision to bring the party into government did not mean they were bound to remain there indefinitely.

“We are a big party, and we have to accept certain terms when we join such arrangements. Raila only said we will be in this government up to 2027. After that, it is up to us to decide. After 2027, we can choose to stay or leave — it will depend on the circumstances. Nobody can say we will remain with Ruto beyond that,” he added.

Similar sentiments on a rethink of the party’s stance in the broad-based arrangement have been shared by Ruth Odinga, Edwin Sifuna, James Orengo and many others.