Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has revealed that the ODM party’s position in the cooperation pact with President William Ruto is not anchored in law.

Speaking during a breakfast TV show on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Odhiambo stated that while the party made an informal agreement to cooperate with the Kenya-Kwanza administration, it is not in government.

“We are working with the government but we are not legally in government. We may be cooperating but we are not in government,” she noted.

Mixed signals

Odhiambo’s remarks come just days after ODM was forced to clarify the grey cooperation pact with Ruto that has divided the party, with one faction insisting that the party is in government while the other maintains it is not.

On Sunday, February 9, 2025, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi questioned the shadowy arrangement with the government, noting that he would pursue it further once Raila Odinga’s African Union Commission bid is finalised.

”When Baba (Raila Odinga) returns from his AU engagements, we will convene here and expect the party leadership to clarify whether we are in government or not,” Amisi said during the party’s Western region convention in Kakamega.

”If we fail to address this, we risk ending up with two ODMs—one in government and the other in the opposition.”

Plot to oust Sifuna

The debate has generated a lot of tensions in the party with a section of MPs calling for the resignation of Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna who is also ODM’s Secretary-General.

Makadara MP George Aladwa has been at the forefront of the calls to oust Sifuna over his stance that ODM members of parliament should desist from becoming cheerleaders of the ruling party.

“Sisi tuna-support broad-based government. Kwa wale wanayumbayumba huku na kule; sisi tutabaki kwa broad-based government na tuko nyuma ya William Samoei Ruto. Iwapo kuna mambo mengine, yatatokea tu,” Aladwa said on Friday, February 7, 2025.

Loosely translates to;

“We support the broad-based government. For those of us still conflicted on the direction to take, we are fully behind President William Samoei Ruto.”

However, interim ODM party leader and Kisumu governor Anyang’ Nyong’o on Sunday, February 9, 2025, warned leaders calling for Sifuna’s ouster over the confusion, stating that the party had full confidence in the city senator.

”Edwin Sifuna is somebody we have full confidence in and I would like you to give him full support,” Nyong’o said.