The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Thursday clapped back at Daily Nation following a controversial story claiming the political outfit's leader has retired from local politics.
In a statement issued by the party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, ODM accused the local publication of attempting to instigate non-existent rivalry within the party.
According to Sifuna, the story titled Raila Retires: 17 years of Grit, endurance at the Helm of ODM was a weird piece that attempted to prematurely write the party leader's political obituary.
"Nation's story is in absolute bad faith and intended to create despondency among party supporters while fanning pandemonium in ODM," Sifuna claimed.
While insisting on the matter, the ODM Secretary General clarified that Odinga was still the party leader.
“Several times, Raila Odinga has informed the country that he will be presenting himself for election to the position of chairman of the African Union Commission during elections to be held in February 2025,” Sifuna reiterated.
“As matters stand now, neither Odinga nor the Orange Democratic Movement has announced his exit and retirement from party leadership.”
Kenyans were further advised to take careful note of the paper's intentions and be wary of the accuracy at which the media stable publishes its articles.
In equal measure, the party called on the publication to exercise professionalism and issue clarity to Kenyans on the controversial story.
Sifuna's clarification comes amidst division within the Azimio coalition on Odinga's successor. Raila has already formalised his bid which climaxed with public backing from President William Ruto last week.
On August 29, National Assembly Majority Leader Junet Mohamed hit back at Wiper party leader Kalonzo Muysoka after the Azimio Principal claimed he was the new opposition leader, replacing Odinga.
Junet accused Kalonzo of imposing the new role on himself since in his view, there was no constitutional provision for such in Kenya
According to the vocal legislator, the government was yet to establish the office of the official opposition as mandated by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.
“I heard our fellow brothers claiming that we as members of the ODM party are in government and that they are the new opposition leaders,” Junet claimed.
“There is no place in the constitution where the role of the opposition leader has been highlighted. We, as the minority members in parliament, will work with the Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah to establish the position of the official opposition leader.”
