Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya has sparked fresh debate over the future of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), warning that the party may be edging toward a decisive political exit if it fails to recalibrate its strategy in time.

Salasya, in a statement on his X handle on Friday, April 17, 2026, drew a picture of ODM as a party which was in a very delicate and even dangerous transition. It is the door of ODM that is verging on the door; whether they will be able to shut it behind them before the feast becomes fatal, he said, in what seems to be a warning against domestic complacency and foreign political pitfalls.

“ODM is inching toward the exit. The question is whether they can close the door behind them before the feast turns fatal. As for the rest of us, we are all, in some way, monkeys in this jungle. Best to keep our own trees within sight,” Salasya stated.

ODM demands respect from UDA

Salasya’s statement comes at a time when the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has demanded respect from the ruling party, the United Democratic Alliance, slamming senior officials’ public utterances.

In a statement on the official ODM X account on Thursday, April 16, 2026, the party accused select leaders from UDA of causing anxiety and disquiet among ODM members.

“On our relationship with our broad-based partners, the UDA party, the Central Committee noted with concern the goings on and the unwarranted public utterances by some senior officials of the UDA Party aimed at causing anxiety and disquiet among our members,” ODM stated.

While slamming select UDA leaders, the ODM leaders shared the principles, ideology and the foundation of the party.

UDA-ODM pre-coalition talks

The proposed coalition talks have, however, caused wrangles within the ODM party, with some members led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna opposing the party’s move.

Other leaders, such as Siaya Governor James Orengo, also came out to oppose the proposal vehemently, saying that ODM should not enter into coalition talks with UDA, arguing that it will lose its popularity and risk becoming a Luo party.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, on his side, stated that the party could have focused on making itself more popular instead of entering into coalition negotiations.

Other leaders, such as Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga, also rejected the talks, saying that there is no need for haste and emphasising that the party should instead concentrate on strengthening its structures so that when they go to the negotiation table, they do so as a strong party.