Cracks in ODM over support for Ruto

By , February 11, 2025

Cracks within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over whether to support President William Ruto’s reelection bid in 2027 played out in the open during a meeting convened by the party.

During the meeting at a Kakamega hotel on Sunday, the party’s MPs from Western challenged the leadership on alleged threats to sack Secretary General Edwin Sifuna over his hardline stance on the broad-based government.

While acting party leader Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o and his two deputies Simba Arati (Kisii governor) and Godffrey Osotsi (nominated senator) maintained that ODM is a distinct party from Kenya Kwanza, its chair Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay governor) cautioned party leaders who are against President William Ruto’s government to go slow.

Wanga said since ODM joined the broad-based government, Nyanza region had benefitted from various infrastructural developments, hence the need to support the government.

Her sentiments were supported by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who said ODM members should reciprocate Ruto’s support for Raila Odinga’s African Union Commission chair bid.

For a long time, ODM has been in opposition and has been criticising the Ruto administration, but this changed mid-last year when ODM leader Raila agreed to work with the head of State.

Some members of the opposition were appointed into government.

But this support for the president has not gone well with  Sifuna and others such as Siaya Governor James Orengo, who want leaders from the opposition to keep the government in check.

But according to Wanga, it is not appropriate for leaders from ODM to criticise the leadership of President Ruto after the party’s top leadership—including John Mbadi, Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya—were appointed to the Kenya Kwanza Cabinet.

“We have decided to cooperate with the government because we have started benefiting from it through infrastructural growth in this region,” she said.

MPs Emmanuel Wangwe, Bernard Shinali, Caleb Amisi, Nabii Nabwera and Innocence Mugabe raised concerns over repeated threats and attempts by a section of ODM stalwarts from Nyanza to undermine Sifuna.

The MPs challenged the party to stop the double speak and declare whether they were in government or opposition.

The concerns prompted Nyong’o, his two deputies, to respond that statements by Sifuna reflected a true position of the ODM Central Management Committee (CMC).

Budalang’i MP Raphael Wanjala stirred the debate on Sifuna challenging the party leadership to come out clear noting it was unfortunate the party leadership remained silent as some junior members disrespected the SG.

Saboti MP Amisi complained that the party seldom recognise the role of leaders in Trans Nzoia and treats them as invitees to the party.

Navakholo’s Wangwe said ODM had perfected the art of doublespeak, courting the government on one hand and disparaging it on the other. He said ODM supporters need clarity on whether to support the government or play opposition role.

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