Ruth Odinga: ODM must disband Linda Ground, Linda Mwanachi factions
By Mabonga Makhanu, March 2, 2026Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga has come out to call for the disbandment of the Linda Ground and Linda Mwananchi factions within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and urged the party to focus on unity.
In a statement shared on her social media channels on Monday, March 2, 2026, the outspoken ODM organising secretary called for the two factions, which have dominated the party in recent days and have been competing to outdo each other, to be disbanded or merged into one formidable force that could give the party an advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ruth Odinga further argued that for the party to have stronger bargaining power ahead of next year’s elections, it should present a united team to improve its position in pre-coalition talks.
“My stand has not changed: I want one strong, united ODM party. We need to collapse ‘Linda Ground’ and ‘Linda Wananchi’ and any other factions into one formidable force; the requisite political muscle to engage in structured negotiations with other parties ahead of elections next year,” she stated.
According to Ruth Odinga, who is also opposed to the recent decision by the ODM Party’s Central Management Committee (CMC) that tasked the party leader Oburu Odinga to lead structured pre-election coalition talks with the UDA party, the party still has ample time.
She noted that, according to the constitution, political parties are given up to three months before the general elections to deposit their coalition agreements with the Registrar of Political Parties. She argued that ODM should focus on strengthening the party rather than rushing into pre-coalition talks.
“Last time I checked, the Political Parties Act gives parties up to May 2027 (or three months before elections) to deposit their pre-election coalition agreements. That means we must use the available time to put our orange house in order,” she said.
Osiany’s perspective
This view was earlier echoed by former Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) David Osiany, who also stated that the two factions Linda Ground, led by Oburu Odinga, and Linda Mwananchi, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, should disband and absorb Linda ODM as their rallying call going forward, as also a way of quelling the escalating party wrangles.
The Linda Ground faction, led by party leader Oburu Odinga, began its activities in January after the Kilifi CMC declaration, with maiden rallies held at Kibra and Kamkunji Grounds—historic locations where the late ODM party leader Raila Odinga often resorted to whenever he had an important political message to pass
The rallies aimed to gather views regarding the proposed pre-coalition talks, where delegates were to air their opinions. Edwin Sifuna, who opposed this decision along with other like-minded leaders, formed the rival Linda Mwananchi movement to counter the Oburu-led group.
Formation of Linda Mwananchi
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, an integral member of the Linda Mwananchi team, recently revealed that the Linda Ground movement was formed at President William Ruto’s Kiligoris home on December 27, 2025, where, according to him, all the party’s NEC members were present except him and Sifuna.
He further stated that all the budgets for this forum were discussed in the presence of the head of state.