ODM cracks widen over broad-based government deal

The decision of whether the Orange Democratic Movement Party led by Raila Odinga is just helping President William Ruto in governance or will support his reelection bid seems to be creating cracks in the opposition outfit.

The rift grew open over the weekend during the party's Western Region Convention in Kakamega where leaders and delegates present clashed on a myriad of issues facing the party, including what some of them termed as the party's Central Management Committee unilaterally making decisions without involving other members, with the latest being a decision to work with the government.

Some leaders opposed to the broad-based government launched scathing attacks at their counterparts who have in the past criticised ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.

Sifuna has remained one of the few voices consistently challenging the government despite the party's newly formed political arrangement.

Some of the leaders led by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi and his Lugari counterpart Nabii Nabwera faulted the party's double-stand approach in working with the government.

''When Baba (Raila Odinga) returns from his AU engagements, we will convene here and expect the party leadership to clarify whether we are in government or not,'' Amisi stated, warning that failure to do so could lead to a divided ODM.

''If we fail to address this, we risk ending up with two ODMs—one in government and the other in the opposition,'' he added.

The events saw the leadership of the party led by its chairperson Gladys Wanga intervene to avoid what would have spiraled into a clash.

2027 polls

According to the Homa Bay governor, the party was not keen on reinforcing the perception that it was aligning with the government. She suggested that the party had already decided to field candidates for all elective seats in the 2027 elections.

''We asked about our position as ODM on this matter of the broad-based and the rest. We have said three things, one among them is that the party is a distinct one because the purpose of any political party is to get power,'' Wanga said.

ODM Deputy Party leader Simba Arati further suggested that there was no way they could accept the party being merged with UDA, alleging that the latter was 'dead.'

''Your Excellency William Ruto, we as ODM cannot get into UDA. UDA is dead politically,'' Arati shared.

However, on the issue of Sifuna's sustained attacks on the government, the party's interim leader Peter Anyang' Nyong'o told off those opposed to the SG, insisting that the party had full belief in him.

''Edwin Sifuna is somebody we have full confidence in and I would like you to give him full support,'' Nyong'o maintained.

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In a recent media interview where Sifuna was asked whether there a direct instruction from the party leader on how ODM should engage with the government, he said that the central committee was given instructions in three-fold, the first one was to retain the identity of the party, second, to remain true to our values and last one, to prepare the party for elections.

"Unless and until Raila changes the instructions, we will remain true to them. He has demonstrated that if something is at odds with the values of the party, we should speak out." Said Sifuna.

He went ahead to say that those against the party are expressing their democratic rights, "If you think there are positivities from Ruto's presidency and you want to give him another term that is your right. But I also have a right to say my party will be fielding a presidential candidate."