Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai has warned that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) risks inadvertently strengthening former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s political campaign against President William Ruto if the party fails to carefully manage its current political direction.

In a statement shared on social media on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Alai expressed concern that sections of ODM may be playing into Gachagua’s strategy of rallying opposition forces against the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“I fear that my party, ODM, is currently helping Gachagua destabilise President Ruto’s government, either knowingly or unknowingly,” Alai wrote.

Although he did not elaborate on the specific actions that prompted his concern, the remarks come at a time when Kenya’s political landscape is witnessing heightened realignments ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Debate over ODM’s direction

Since President William Ruto and the late ODM leader Raila Odinga signed a political cooperation agreement in March 2025, ODM has remained divided over how closely it should work with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

While several senior ODM leaders have defended the broad-based arrangement, others have openly criticised the government over governance, the economy and alleged human rights violations.

Alai has consistently been among the strongest defenders of the cooperation between ODM and President Ruto.

Previously, he argued that the party should support the President without issuing ultimatums and cautioned fellow ODM leaders against what he described as attempts to “blackmail” the Head of State over the 2027 elections.

Gachagua’s growing opposition movement

Alai’s latest warning comes as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua continues building support for what has become one of the country’s most visible opposition formations.

Following his fallout with President Ruto, Gachagua has intensified nationwide political tours while working alongside leaders from Wiper, DAP-Kenya, the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), Jubilee and other opposition outfits under the banner of a United Alternative Government.

The coalition has also been conducting the Linda Mwananchi rallies across different counties, accusing President Ruto’s administration of poor governance, economic hardship and suppressing dissent.

Several ODM figures opposed to the party’s cooperation with Kenya Kwanza, including Suba South MP Caroli Omondi and Siaya Governor James Orengo, have also attended some of the opposition activities, further fuelling speculation about possible political realignments ahead of 2027.

ODM internal divisions

Following Raila Odinga’s death, ODM has experienced growing internal debate over its future political direction.

One faction has maintained that the party should continue honouring the cooperation framework established with President Ruto, while another has argued that ODM should return fully to the opposition and work with other parties to challenge Kenya Kwanza in the next General Election.

The differences have occasionally played out publicly through conflicting statements by senior party officials over issues ranging from government policy to the party’s relationship with the opposition.