By any measure, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is at a crossroads, and former Senate Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio says urgent action is needed to steer the party through its mounting internal crisis.

Speaking in an interview on a local TV station on Monday, February 9, 2026, Poghisio said the party is grappling with an identity crisis, leadership vacuum, and competing political interests, issues that threaten to reshape ODM’s relevance ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Evident is the deepening internal turmoil as one faction within ODM is warming up to President William Ruto’s re-election plans, while another insists the party must remain independent and strong enough to field its own presidential candidate.

The divide has played out publicly through parallel rallies, conflicting statements, and internal accusations over funding and loyalty.

“You do not even need to talk about factions anymore. Every weekend, you see two or three groups moving around, each pushing its own interests,” the former legislator stated.

Poghisio noted that the entry of UDA-linked figures into ODM functions has added to the confusion, fueling disputes over resources and influence.

The party’s push for a 50/50 power-sharing arrangement as part of a pre-election plan has only deepened the rift. ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, a leader of the anti-Ruto camp, has already declared the so-called 10-point agenda dead, signalling just how far apart the factions have drifted. For Poghisio, these contradictions indicate weakness rather than strategy.

“What is fine about these states? They should get into their house, sort it out, then come out and tell us what is actually left of ODM, something Raila Odinga would be proud of,” he posed.

ODM in disarray

Poghisio’s concern is rooted in ODM’s history. For two decades, the party revolved around Raila Odinga, whose singular authority held together diverse interests.

“ODM has lasted 20 years. It’s the only true grassroots party. But when that one person is no longer there, a big void is left, like in any family,” he argued.

He warned that party leaders, including Oburu Odinga, have yet to confront this reality. While Oburu has been endorsed for a leadership role.

“He lacks what it takes to unite the party as Raila did. Endorsement alone is meaningless without decisive action. There’s always room for an interim or emergency NDC to deal with a crisis,” he said.

Without such intervention, Poghisio warns ODM risks fragmentation, diluted messaging, and a confused base, even in its traditional strongholds in Western Kenya.

For now, he said, the party’s struggle is less about President Ruto or the 2027 election and more about whether it can redefine itself beyond the shadow of its founder before it is too late.