For a long time, the tension inside ODM has been there \u2014 people whispered about it, insiders hinted at it \u2014 but now it\u2019s no longer something the party can quietly manage behind closed doors. What was once hidden is now playing out in public, and it\u2019s getting uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s bold claim that he had taken legal steps to recover about KSh 12 billion he says the government owes ODM.<\/p>\n
That move didn\u2019t sit well with everyone \u2014 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\u2019t hold back, accusing Orengo of going too far and presenting himself as if he had authority he doesn\u2019t officially hold.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 and in ODM, such lines are often blurred.<\/a><\/p>\n But what really raised eyebrows was the talk that Orengo had positioned himself as some kind of \u201cacting party leader.\u201d That didn\u2019t just cause murmurs \u2014 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.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s 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\u2019s future. With Raila\u2019s next political move still uncertain, the question of who takes charge \u2014 and when \u2014 is becoming harder to ignore.<\/p>\n Right now, instead of calming the situation, both sides seem to be digging in. There\u2019s 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.<\/a><\/p>\n What happens next could define ODM\u2019s direction going forward. If the wrangles continue unchecked, the risk isn\u2019t just internal discomfort \u2014 it could weaken the party at a time when unity matters most.<\/p>\n