Raila's ODM at a crossroads as government it supports seeks to silence dissent

Opposition leader Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is finding itself at a crossroads regarding the position it takes on the ongoing abductions, forced disappearances and the use of brutal force by police on people criticising the government.

While the party leadership has come out to voice its concern over abductions of persons criticising President William Ruto and his administration, some lawmakers in Odinga's party continue to support the acts of high-handedness by the state which contravene the constitution.

Following the Monday protests that led to the arrest of Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and other activists, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma said in a post on his X page that he was happy that the demonstrations were not widespread and that it is now the turn of their political opponents to picket against the government.

"The budget for tear gas, bullets and police can't be reserved for our people each fiscal year. We lost many people last year, even as those now calling us to demonstrate celebrated the killing of economic terrorists," wrote Kaluma on X.

He went ahead to ask the police to stock enough tear gas to tackle the protesters.

"You supported and celebrated the killing of our people during last year's demonstrations. Hiyo maandamano mtaenda peke yenu, bila sisi. Twaomba askari wetu waweke tear gas ya kutosha. Yeyote atajaribu uhalifu ashikwe na apelekwe kortini." (You will be demonstrating alone. We ask the police to stock enough tear gas. Whoever tries to cause destruction should be arrested and taken to court).

Another ODM lawmaker, Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, rubbished the viral reports of abductions, saying most are false and baseless propaganda. The lawmaker claimed that political machinations are behind the ongoing narratives which are designed to tarnish the government's name.

Atandi claimed that while there may be isolated genuine cases, most of the abduction claims are baseless propaganda.

"I am also intelligent and have been analysing some of these abduction reports. I've come to realise that many of them are just total propaganda," Atandi said.

‘Fabricated’

The MP urged government critics to approach the situation with great caution, stressing that many of the reported cases of abductions are fabricated to undermine the government's stability.

"We joined the government because we do not want it to collapse. Many countries have fallen into chaos due to political turmoil. Our role is to maintain stability so that the country can move forward and the rule of law is respected," he said.

Kileleshwa MCA and vocal ODM party member Robert Alai accused the arrested activists of getting paid to stage demonstrations against the government.

"There are Kenyans who are paid appearance fees by donors every time they hit the street to chant any slogan. If you put your life on the line beside such fools, you are doomed. In ODM-led demonstrations, we wouldn't allow them close to us because we know the scheme. So they hated ODM," claimed Alai.

Call to arrest Ruto's critics

Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, a member of ODM and a close ally of Raila Odinga, also blasted Ruto's critics, calling for the arrest of those creating caricatures of government officials on online platforms.

He pointed to recent AI-generated images of Ruto in a coffin, describing them as a disturbing trend of using social media to mock leaders.

"Don't put me in a coffin before my time reaches. Only God will know when I will be laid in a coffin," Junet said.

However, on Monday, the ODM party issued a stern warning, threatening to spearhead a popular resistance against Ruto's administration over the emergence of dictatorial and oppressive politics.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Nation, ODM interim party leader Anyang' Nyong'o took issue with the ongoing abductions across the country, saying they would resist attempts by the regime to oppress Kenyans.

"We are ready to lead a popular resistance to dictatorial and oppressive politics that tries to impose an oppressive and undemocratic regime on people through such things as abductions and Precambrian political threats. We therefore strongly caution the government to stop this cowardly abduction of those who criticise undemocratic policies," Prof Nyong'o said.

Despite Nyong'o's stand, the party has not officially called out its members who are publicly supporting ongoing police excesses and contravention of the Constitution.