Winnie Odinga reunites with Linda Mwananchi’s Edwin Sifuna and Osotsi
By Mustafa Juma, May 15, 2026A moment of political warmth and symbolism played out in Kisii County after Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna, who leads the Linda Mwananchi faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), shared photos showing a reunion with Winnie Odinga and Vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi during a burial ceremony.
Sifuna, who attended the funeral of the mother of Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, described the gathering as a celebration of a life fully lived.
“Happening…we are in Kisii County to send off Senator Onyonka’s mom, and it’s a proper celebration of a life fully lived!” Sifuna posted on his X account, alongside images from the event, on Friday, May 15, 2026.
Warm interaction at the funeral
The photos showed Sifuna seated alongside Winnie Odinga and Senator Osotsi in what appeared to be a relaxed and cordial exchange.
In one of the images, Winnie is seen seated between Sifuna and Osotsi, with visible moments of laughter and conversation.
The reunion has drawn political attention due to the shifting alignments within ODM’s internal factions, particularly the rivalry between the Sifuna-led Linda Mwananchi group and the Oburu Oginga-aligned Linda Ground faction.
While the event was primarily a funeral service, the optics of the leaders sharing a light moment have reignited conversations about the evolving dynamics within ODM.
Winnie Odinga had previously been viewed as a possible key figure within the Sifuna-led Linda Mwananchi faction.
However, she later aligned herself with the Oburu Oginga-led camp and attended the ODM Special Delegates Convention (SDC) at Jamhuri Grounds, where Oburu Oginga was ratified as party leader.
Osotsi had earlier stated that there was a high possibility of a sinister motive behind the push for Winnie Odinga to become the ODM deputy party leader.
Speaking during a presser held in Starehe Constituency on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Osotsi urged Winnie to tread carefully, claiming she could be used by the Oburu Odinga-led Linda Ground faction to justify the legality of the ODM NDC, which, according to him, had not been legally convened.
Her attendance at the Nairobi ODM delegates’ meeting, chaired by Makadara MP George Aladwa, had earlier fuelled speculation that she could be positioned for a senior party role.
Shift in party dynamics
At that Nairobi meeting, delegates endorsed Winnie for the Deputy Party Leader position ahead of planned party elections.
Following the endorsement, Winnie declared ODM her home.
However, when ODM concluded its leadership ratification process, she did not secure the post.
The developments highlighted ongoing internal realignments within ODM as the party prepares for future electoral contests and internal restructuring.
The Kisii reunion, though informal, could be interpreted as a rare moment of visible unity among leaders associated with competing political blocs within the party.
With Sifuna, Osotsi, and Winnie sharing the same space, the images have fuelled speculation over whether behind-the-scenes efforts may be underway to have her rejoin the Linda Mwananchi faction.
For now, the leaders have not issued any formal political statement on the meeting, leaving the images to speak for themselves in Kenya’s increasingly dynamic opposition politics landscape.