By The Weekly Vision Political Desk
A major political storm is brewing within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as a renegade faction, led by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, prepares to unveil what they term a “youth-led political renaissance” during a high-profile event dubbed the Lukhome Declaration.
Set to take place in Lukhome, Saboti constituency in Trans Nzoia County, the forum is shaping up to be a bold counterweight to ODM’s current political trajectory. The faction has voiced deep dissatisfaction with ODM’s close cooperation with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a relationship formally cemented on 7 March through a broad-based agreement.
“This Sunday, Lukhome will go down in history as the genesis of a youth renaissance,” declared MP Amisi, adding that the gathering will launch a “massive movement to change the country democratically.”
The declaration is seen as a rallying call for ODM members disillusioned by the party’s increasingly pro-government stance. Tensions have been simmering for months, with dissenters questioning the effectiveness and ideological clarity of ODM under the current arrangement.
Amisi has not minced his words, openly challenging party leader Raila Odinga to abandon the UDA pact, which facilitated the appointment of several key ODM figures, including Cabinet Secretaries John Mbadi, Opiyo Wandayi, Hassan Joho, and Wycliffe Oparanya, into government positions. He likened the deal to the controversial 2018 “handshake” between Odinga and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, which he argues delivered little for ODM’s core supporters.
“The party is at risk of losing its soul,” warned Amisi. “Unless urgent corrective steps are taken, ODM will face an identity crisis.”
Sifuna, who has often diverged from the party’s official position on key issues, has adopted an equally combative tone. The Nairobi Senator declared the ODM-UDA working arrangement “effectively dead,” accusing UDA of failing to uphold its end of the 10-point joint agenda agreed upon in March.
Nonetheless, in a move that appeared contradictory, Sifuna recently announced the formation of a joint technical committee with UDA to oversee implementation of the agreement, despite his public disillusionment.
In response to the unrest, Raila Odinga convened the ODM Central Management Committee in an attempt to restore party unity and manage the emerging factionalism. However, insiders suggest the meeting did little to quell the dissent, with the rebels now gaining ground and public momentum.
Political analysts view the Lukhome Declaration as a pivotal moment for ODM—a possible beginning of a generational shift within the party. With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the declaration could either force a leadership reconfiguration or lead to a deeper fragmentation within Kenya’s main opposition outfit.
Whether this youth-led revolt will succeed in redefining ODM’s future or splinter it further remains to be seen. But what is clear is that Lukhome has become the new battleground for the soul of the party.
