Migori Senator Eddy Oketch has blamed the ongoing divisions and wrangles within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on the tendency of party officials to engage in double-speak.

Speaking to a local radio station on Thursday, January 8, 2025, Oketch stressed that much of the ODM’s problems stemmed from conflicting utterances by a section of party officials.

Doublespeak

“There is no betrayal in ODM; the problem is the double-speak—people say one thing today and something different tomorrow. We can’t run a party that way. If we can’t control and stop members from speaking out of both sides of their mouths, there is a strong possibility we will sink this party,” he stated.

While explaining his bone of contention with embattled Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Oketch opined that the embattled SG has no luxury to speak like any other party member by virtue of the position he holds.

“When such an issue persists, it becomes misconduct and not just ideological differences. The issue is that there is a personal position and a party position. Sifuna must speak as a party official and not express his personal opinion. He is the one who took us into the broad-based government along with Raila. He was there among the party officials who signed the deal,” he posited.

He cautioned that if order is not restored in the party, it could suffer irreparable damage.

Reconcile members

“We have to protect Baba’s party. We will break this party if we keep airing personal opinions. We must have a united stance as a party and stick to it. Even on the issue of ODM fielding a presidential candidate—which appears to be causing problems—if we had a united stance, it would have been a non-issue. We need a party where all members subject themselves to the agreed rules and where discipline reigns,” he added.

While proposing a way forward, Oketch suggested that the party leadership stamp its authority and reconcile feuding members before matters spill out of hand.

“We have to show restraint ourselves and keep our party discipline guarded, lest we leave behind a confused party. Time is ticking; we could reach a point where we can no longer agree again on anything,” he stated.