For a long time, the tension inside ODM has been there — people whispered about it, insiders hinted at it — but now it’s no longer something the party can quietly manage behind closed doors. What was once hidden is now playing out in public, and it’s getting uncomfortable.
At the centre of the storm is a sharp fallout involving Siaya Governor James Orengo and a section of the party leadership linked to Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga. The issue that sparked all this? Orengo’s bold claim that he had taken legal steps to recover about KSh 12 billion he says the government owes ODM.
That move didn’t sit well with everyone — in fact, it rattled some senior figures. Within the party, questions started flying almost immediately. Who gave him the green light? Was he speaking for ODM, or acting on his own? Those close to Oburu didn’t hold back, accusing Orengo of going too far and presenting himself as if he had authority he doesn’t officially hold.
Then things started getting personal. Old disagreements were dragged back into the spotlight, with some leaders even linking Orengo to past tensions involving party leader Raila Odinga. Whether those claims are true or just political shots being fired is still unclear — and in ODM, such lines are often blurred.
But what really raised eyebrows was the talk that Orengo had positioned himself as some kind of “acting party leader.” That didn’t just cause murmurs — it set off alarm bells. To many within ODM, that looked less like a casual statement and more like a calculated move in a bigger political game.
And that’s where the bigger picture comes in. ODM has been dealing with an unspoken struggle between its long-standing leadership and emerging voices trying to shape the party’s future. With Raila’s next political move still uncertain, the question of who takes charge — and when — is becoming harder to ignore.
Right now, instead of calming the situation, both sides seem to be digging in. There’s been no joint effort to cool things down, no united message to reassure supporters. Instead, the exchanges continue in public rallies and statements, each side standing its ground.
What happens next could define ODM’s direction going forward. If the wrangles continue unchecked, the risk isn’t just internal discomfort — it could weaken the party at a time when unity matters most.
For now, one thing is clear: this is no longer just internal disagreement. It’s a full-blown power struggle, and everyone is watching how it unfolds.