Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kaluma has refuted claims of division within the larger Luo community after the death of the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

For many years, Odinga has been the unifying factor of the Luo community, shaping both regional and national politics until his demise on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in India.

Raila’s death has sparked mixed reactions on the political future of his community and his party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which is marking its 20th anniversary.

Amid the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Luo Community and the ODM party ahead of the 2027 general election, Kaluma has insisted that both the community and the party will work with President William Ruto in the broad-based government format.

”The Luo Community is and will remain united. The Luo Community is and will remain in the ODM party. The Luo Community is and will remain in the Broad-Based Government. Thank you, Baba Raila Odinga. May God Shine Eternal Light Upon Your Soul,” Kaluma took to X on Sunday, October 26, 2025.

The legislator has also insisted that the ODM will honour its party leader, the late Raila Odinga’s will on working with the current regime. He has also warned the People’s Liberation Party (PL) leader, Martha Karua, and Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya about interfering with the late former Prime Minister’s political will.

Karua faults Ruto-Raila pact

Speaking in a local radio interview on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, Karua had faulted President William Ruto’s testimony on Raila Odinga and the relationship the two had before Odinga passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, while undergoing treatment in India.

”If you listen to Dr William Ruto, you would think that he and the late Raila Odinga shared a lot in common, but absolutely not, because he stands for something totally different. Even the choreographed group from within ODM, who were only singing praises of the union with the State, seemed to forget that they were at a funeral,” Karua said.

Kaluma fires back

In response to Karua’s sentiments, Kaluma said, ”Martha Karua and George Natembeya, it is too early to move from one media station to the next, discrediting the legacy of Baba Raila Odinga barely 3 days after his funeral. Please respect our culture. We will follow Baba’s political will and direction to the letter: ODM is and will remain a distinct political party.”

“We are in the broad-based government created by Baba and President Ruto for equity, inclusivity and national unity. This will be so beyond 2027. Baba has rested. We remain with President Ruto as our leader under the MOU between ODM and UDA,” Kaluma took to X on Tuesday.