Winnie Odinga, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP, openly criticised some leaders within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for using her late father, Raila Odinga, for personal gain.

Speaking at a rally at Kamukunji Grounds on Sunday, January 18, 2026, Winnie accused opportunists of joining the party not to uphold Raila’s vision but to exploit his legacy.

Winnie used a striking bus analogy to explain the state of the party after Raila’s death.

“On this journey, we were passengers, and Baba was the driver. One day, we woke up and were shocked. The driver had died. He had passed away,” she said at Kamukunji grounds.

She added:

“Slowly, some people moved to the front, grabbed the steering wheel, and pulled it in different directions. They pushed us, the passengers, to the back. They forgot that Baba died only yesterday. Why the rush? Stop the bus. Let us talk. Let us decide together and move forward.”

She warned that not everyone in ODM truly believed in Raila’s vision.

“We see that not everyone among us who believed in Baba was genuine. Some were just using him,” she said.

Her remarks were interpreted as criticism of leaders pushing for alliances with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

ODM divisions spark debate

The rally comes after an ODM meeting at the same venue last week, led by Raila’s brother Oburu Oginga, which highlighted disagreements over leadership and alliances. Separately, in Kakamega, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed defended ongoing talks with UDA and criticised party figures like Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

“We want ODM to be in government. ODM is not an NGO for handing relief food,” Junet said.

Winnie began her day at a church service in Makina, Kibra, where she was joined by her brother, Raila Odinga Junior, and Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto. She addressed her absence from the community, explaining that she struggled to return without her father.

“Today, we have come back home. This is a place we have come all our lives. I would like to apologise for taking so long to come back. I was a bit troubled. I didn’t know how to come back to Kibra without Baba, I didn’t know how to talk to you, I thought I’d cry,” she told the congregation at ACK Holy Trinity Parish.