Winnie Odinga has alleged plans to sell the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, exactly a month after her father’s passing.
The last-born daughter of the late former ODM party leader Raila Odinga made the allegations while addressing supporters and party leaders at the ODM@20 celebrations in Mombasa on Friday. The event marked the party’s 20th anniversary and commemorated the life and legacy of Raila.
She claimed that the planners were secretly working behind closed doors to push their plan.
According to the EALA MP, the orchestrators held clandestine meetings to sell the party at a time when ODM appears divided over whether to continue supporting the Kenya Kwanza administration or forge its own path ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, she did not reveal any specific details.
“ODM is not a party that was secretly birthed. I am informed that there are some of us who are walking with us during the day, but at night are hatching plans to sell our party. That will not be possible, the party was not born in a boardroom,” Winnie claimed.
“The party was not made in a bedroom, and its future will not be discussed as pillow talk. It was born out of protest, made in resistance, and the people of ODM have bled time and again and shed tears for this country, Kenya,” she added.
Mombasa Fireworks
Political stakes were high at the event, with ODM leaders seemingly targeting one another over the party’s stance toward the current administration.
Speaking at the same event, Siaya Governor James Orengo renewed his criticism of the party’s collaboration with the government, calling out a section of ODM members for working with President William Ruto’s administration under the guise of a broad-based agreement, describing the move as ‘cowardly.’
Orengo maintained that it is President Ruto who needs ODM, and not the other way round, for the 2027 General Election, since he has failed to live up to Kenyans' expectations.
Additionally, he pointed out that ODM should remain a stand-alone party that continues to be the voice of the voiceless.
"We want an accountable government and now, as we speak, I dare say, Ruto needs ODM; it's not ODM that needs Ruto. There are people in the party behaving as if ODM is the one that needs Ruto," Orengo stated.
Adding that: "It's Ruto that needs ODM, because he has been unable to deliver. I am not afraid to say, I have nothing to fear but fear. I was very happy when Dr Oburu said ODM will not be swallowed."
In what appeared to be a response to the hardliners, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining and former ODM deputy leader, Hassan Joho, challenged the party leadership to control what is said and to allow only the legally recognised party organs to issue statements on the party's position.
Meanwhile, the party's Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, maintained that he would not blindly support the government and that the party is in a position to put forward a presidential candidate in 2027.
