By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 31 December 2025 - The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is grappling with internal tensions as senior leaders publicly disagree over the party’s stance on engagement with President William Ruto’s government.
The debate, unfolding in public forums and social media, has highlighted contrasting views on strategy, leadership, and the party’s grassroots base.
Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo on Tuesday warned ODM colleagues against sidelining the party by insisting on confrontation with the government.
Speaking at a thanksgiving event in Mutumbu, Siaya County, he cautioned, “Some leaders are trying to monopolise ODM, and their insistence on confrontation risks sidelining the party from national decision-making.”
Odhiambo urged a pragmatic approach, arguing that engagement with Kenya Kwanza is a strategic necessity rather than a compromise.
The warning drew immediate reactions from other party leaders.
Siaya Governor James Orengo and Nairobi Senator Susan Kihika Sifuna appeared to reinforce Odhiambo’s caution, emphasising that ODM must maintain a strong identity and not be perceived as divided.
Orengo, a long-time advocate for the party’s opposition role, stressed the importance of safeguarding ODM’s credibility while navigating government relations.
However, the remarks triggered a sharp response from ODM National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohamed, who rejected attempts to intimidate or silence him.
Junet declared he would not be “cowed by Sifuna and the like,” asserting his readiness to represent the party’s ordinary supporters.
“For me, and for ODM, every vote and every voice counts,” he said, pushing back against Sifuna’s characterisation of the grassroots as non-entities.
He framed his stance as a defense of the party’s rank-and-file members, whom he vowed to champion in all party decisions.
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The debate exposes a delicate balancing act for ODM.
Some leaders see engagement with the government as a way to deliver development projects and retain political influence, while others insist that the party must assert its opposition credentials to maintain trust among its supporters.
Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has repeatedly urged unity, arguing that internal cohesion is critical for ODM’s strength and relevance.
President William Ruto of UDA has echoed these sentiments, warning that factionalism weakens the party nationally.
In ODM’s traditional stronghold of Nyanza, the discussion carries heightened significance.
MPs advocating engagement argue that proximity to power ensures tangible benefits for constituents, while critics caution that over-alignment with government risks alienating the party’s base.
The tension also intersects with leadership succession debates and broader questions about the opposition’s effectiveness ahead of the 2027 elections.
Junet’s challenge to Sifuna and his insistence on valuing every voice highlights a generational and ideological divide within ODM: between senior leaders focused on strategic positioning and emerging figures seeking to strengthen grassroots representation. Analysts suggest that how the party navigates these internal disagreements could shape its electoral strategy, succession planning, and overall influence in Kenyan politics.
As ODM continues to weigh engagement versus opposition, leaders face the task of balancing pragmatic governance with the party’s core identity. The outcome of this debate will likely determine not just the party’s stance in government, but also how it connects with its members across the country.
Gem MP Odhiambo Warns ODM Critics as Leaders Clash Over Party Direction
Elisha Odhiambo Warns Against Confrontation as Party Tensions Rise
