By The Weekly Vision Political Desk
The passing of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, who had been at the helm of the party for 20 years, has thrown the organisation into a state of flux, with no clear succession plan in place.
On Wednesday, 15th October, the Orange Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) settled on his elder brother, Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga, to replace him as interim leader. However, heightened jostling among the party’s top leadership is expected in the coming weeks, especially with the next presidential election less than two years away.
This is despite Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi rooting for Dr Oburu to be confirmed in the position at a time when ODM finds itself in a dilemma. The party now needs an energetic leader to give direction ahead of the next election, particularly on whether it will continue its relationship with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) under the broad-based government framework, join the United Opposition, or field its own candidate to take on President William Ruto.
During the State funeral service at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University in Bondo, ahead of Raila’s burial at his Opoda home on Sunday, 19th October, ODM leaders serving in government were emphatic that the party would continue working with President Ruto’s administration. They included National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, Hassan Joho (Mining and Maritime Affairs), Wycliffe Oparanya (Co-operatives and MSMEs Development), Beatrice Askul (East African Community), and Wandayi.
ODM Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga stated that it was Raila’s wish for ODM to remain in the broad-based government for the sake of national unity. “Raila showed us before he died that he wanted us to remain in government as a community and as a party. We will continue to be in the broad-based government,” said Mbadi.
On his part, Joho declared: “I have never betrayed Raila, and I cannot be anywhere he has not taken me. I was taken to the government of William Ruto by Raila Odinga, and that is where I shall stay. “I was a very young man from Kisauni, where nobody knew who I was. I went to see Raila, and he held my hand. I became an MP, a governor, and now a Cabinet Secretary.”
President Ruto, who is among ODM’s founders and once served as Raila’s deputy alongside the current Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, also vowed to protect the party and ensure it does not disintegrate following Raila’s demise. “The thing I cannot accept, in honour of this hero of ours, and I will do everything possible, God helping me, is to allow anyone to uproot the ODM party or to play the opposition card out there. That will not happen,” Ruto said.
According to the President, although he is the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party leader, he will respect and support ODM to hold it together in line with Raila’s wishes. He hinted at the possibility of a pre-election agreement between ODM and UDA, stating: “ODM must be strong going into 2027 because that is how we will form a strong government. Political parties are the foundation of democracy, and the strength of ODM matters a great deal to me.” Ruto added: “ODM will either form the next government or be part of it.”
ODM’s arrangement with UDA has been a source of tension between the old guard and youthful leaders such as Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, who are expected to lead calls for a change of leadership within the Orange Party.
However, during the funeral service in Bondo, Sifuna said he would be the last person to contribute to ODM’s collapse and urged members to avoid divisive politics within the party. “This is not the time to push divisive narratives within ODM. As ODM leaders, we must demonstrate unity so that our members can follow our example. I will not be among those who contribute to the downfall of Raila’s party,” he said.
“Because ODM is one of your greatest legacies, I, Sifuna, will do everything in my power to keep this party together, even in the face of provocation, and you know what we are talking about,” Sifuna added.
