Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has called on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to take disciplinary action against dissenting party officials, including Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, over what he termed as disrespect to party leadership.
Speaking in Rarieda Constituency on Friday 2 December, Wandayi said senior party officials must uphold discipline and respect party organs, warning that public attacks against fellow leaders were unacceptable.
“If you are a party leader occupying the position of Secretary General, you must respect fellow leaders,” Wandayi said, adding that senior figures should not engage in public confrontations that undermine the party.
Wandayi further called on Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo to guide the party on how to address what he termed indiscipline among some members.
“This is a warning. Dr Otiende should help the party to take disciplinary action on these people who are disturbing us,” he said.
Otiende, who serves as ODM vice chairperson, expressed confidence in the party’s leadership under Oburu Oginga, who took over after the passing of his brother, Raila Odinga. He said the party would remain united ahead of future political engagements.
The remarks come amid recent criticism by Sifuna, who has alleged attempts to align or sell out the party to President William Ruto’s political camp.
The developments come just days after Oburu announced that the party will make a formal decision by the end of 2026 on whether to fully partner with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) or field its own presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, ahead of New Year celebrations, Oburu stated that ODM has not yet endorsed a working partnership with President Ruto and is still considering several options before finalising any agreement.
Oburu explained that if the party chooses to contest the next elections independently, he would automatically become the party’s presidential candidate, as provided for in the ODM constitution.
“Of course, if we are going it alone, I want to make it absolutely clear that our constitution already has a presidential candidate. That presidential candidate is none other than the party leader. It is the party leader speaking, and I am the party leader. I am the presidential leader for ODM if ODM decides to go it alone,” Oburu said.
He added that any potential alliance with UDA would depend on several factors, including the fulfilment of the 10-point working agenda and the memorandum of understanding signed between ODM and UDA in February last year.
