Homa Bay Senator Moses Otieno Kajwang’ has stepped into the growing row within ODM, reminding party members that the late Raila Odinga always held the Fourth President Uhuru Kenyatta in high regard.

In a post on X on Monday, January 5, 2026, Kajwang’ noted that Odinga respected Kenyatta throughout his life, even after losing the disputed 2022 election. He cautioned against rewriting history now that Baba has passed away.

“In his lifetime, Raila Odinga held Uhuru Kenyatta in high regard. This respect did not change even after our 2022 electoral ‘defeat’. We cannot rewrite the narrative just because Baba is no longer with us,” Kajwang’ wrote.

He described the 2022 poll as water under the bridge and urged ODM to stop using it to stir confusion. Instead, the senator said, the party must unite and deliver Kenyans to the proverbial Canaan by embracing all progressive allies.

“The 2022 election is water under the bridge and should not be used to cause confusion within ODM. We must deliver our people to the proverbial Canaan. ODM must embrace all progressive parties committed to this goal.”

Kajwang’s intervention comes as ODM faces renewed divisions. The dispute began when Secretary General Edwin Sifuna accused Suna East MP Junet Mohamed of mishandling campaign funds in 2022.

Sifuna claimed much of the money came from Uhuru Kenyatta, who had backed Raila’s Azimio campaign heavily. He said campaign agents went unpaid because some leaders pocketed the funds, weakening the party’s ground game and costing the election. Junet rejected the claims, instead pointing fingers at other close associates.

Unity over internal divisions

Odinga and Uhuru built a strong alliance through the 2018 handshake and the 2022 coalition. Raila never wavered in praising Uhuru’s role, even in defeat. Kajwang’ urges ODM to follow that legacy and work with all committed progressives, including those connected to Uhuru.

The feud exposes deeper splits in the party since Raila’s death in October 2025. Factions disagree over ties to President William Ruto’s government and ODM’s strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.

Other party leaders have called for calm. A group of ODM MPs urged internal discussions to heal the divisions, warning that public quarrels will harm the party as it searches for direction without Raila.

Jaoko Oburu Odinga also urged members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to protect the party, describing it as a gift left behind by Raila Odinga. He said ODM should receive the same protection that Kenyans gave to multiparty democracy and devolution.

“ODM is a gift that Baba Raila Odinga, C.G.H., left for us,” Jaoko wrote. “Just as we have protected his other gifts, multiparty democracy and devolution, ODM must also be protected from the enemies within and without.”