Winnie Odinga warns leaders trying to sell ODM through backroom deals
By Faith Lagat, November 14, 2025East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Winnie Odinga delivered a firm message at the Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) 20th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa, emphasising that the party remains united and untouchable.
Winnie addressed thousands of party supporters on Friday, November 14, 2025, making it clear that internal divisions and external interference would not destabilise ODM. “ODM is not for sale!” she declared.
Addressing internal division rumours
Winnie dismissed circulating reports of splits within the party, describing them as meaningless noise. “Nimeskia mazungumzo ya mgawanyiko wa chama cha ODM kugawanyika hiyo wasahau, ni kelele za chura,” she said, comparing the chatter to the croaking of frogs.
She contextualised erratic behaviour within the party as a response to the grief following the death of her father, former party leader Raila Odinga. “You know, when you have a great tragedy, people get confused tragedy, people get confused, tragedy, people get confused and they act in strange ways,” she observed.
Reinforcing party integrity
The legislator cautioned against attempts to splinter the party, warning that opportunistic manoeuvres would fail.
“If anyone is thinking like that,wajue ya kwamba ODM tunajenga na hatuna mchezo,” she stated, stressing that the party is focused on building and not playing games.
She further exposed attempts by some to undermine the party through covert actions, saying, “Naskia kuna wengine wanatembea na sisi mchana na usiku wanajaribu kuuza chama, hawatafaulu. ODM is not for sale!”
Winnie also rejected the notion of backroom deals, stating, “ODM was not born in a bedroom, not made in a bedroom, so its future cannot be discussed in pillow talks.”
Winnie also affirmed that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) remains a people-driven party, rooted in resistance and sustained by public conviction.
“ODM was born from protest, raised in resistance, and it still belongs to the people,” she told thousands of supporters gathered for the anniversary event.
She went ahead to address the party’s shortcomings but said its commitment to defending public interests remains unchanged.
“We are sorry that we don’t always get it right poleni. But we will never be sorry for being inconvenient,” she stated, responding to critics who accuse ODM of disruption.
The EALA MP concluded by urging party members to resist external pressures and uphold ODM’s sovereignty. “For those that are trying to confuse us, to separate the party, that will not work,” she affirmed.