Winnie Odinga: ODM must focus on Kenyans’ well-being, not 2027 coalitions
By Kenneth Mwenda, January 28, 2026EALA MP Winnie Odinga has called on leaders of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to focus on the welfare of Kenyans rather than premature talks on coalitions ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking in her first television interview since the death of her father, Raila Odinga, Winnie emphasised that the party’s priority should be the needs of the people.
In an interview with on TV on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Winnie criticised the party for concentrating on alliances with other political outfits instead of addressing pressing social issues.
“The only conversation the leadership of ODM should be having now is the well-being of the people of Kenya,” she said. “A year and a half to elections, you want to enter a football match, you don’t even know if the referee has a whistle or boots. You are discussing many things, but what about the social needs of our people?”
She questioned whether the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is prepared for the upcoming elections, highlighting that the fulfilment of electoral milestones affects all political planning.
Winnie stressed that discussions on coalitions with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) are premature.
“This IEBC, are they prepared? Have we reached our milestones? Because that will impact everything. These people, what are their social needs? Are we fulfilling them?”
“When we have conversations with other people, what is agenda number one? Number two? Number three? Number four? Number one to four is the people of Kenya. That has always been Baba Raila Mulodinga’s focus, and that will always be mine,” she added.
Ready to serve Kenya
Odinga said she is ready to return home to Kenya and serve in any capacity requested by the people. She referred to her statement at her father Raila Odinga’s burial in Bondo, where she told President William Ruto that she was ready to come back.
“When called upon, I serve the country. I am serving at a regional level, but my heart always belongs in Kenya. Kenya owns my heart. And I would like to be back home with the people,” she said.
She dismissed claims that her remarks to the president implied a request for a position.
“I wasn’t asking for anything. I was telling him. But I would love to come back home. If the people tell me they want me to be a local politician, perhaps an MCA, that is what I’ll do. If they tell me to work in different capacities, or go back to EALA, that is what I’ll do,” she explained.
Odinga also raised concerns about youth participation in politics.