By TWV Political Desk
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee will convene tomorrow , its first summit since the death of party leader Raila Odinga on 15 October, as the party navigates an uncertain future.
Mombasa Governor and deputy party leader Abdulswamad Nassir announced that the special meeting, chaired by acting party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga, will address three key items: upcoming by-elections, celebrating ODM’s 20th anniversary alongside Raila’s 80 years of legacy, and revisiting the 10-point agenda in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Raila and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“We will hold a special Central Committee meeting chaired by Oburu Oginga, focusing on by-elections, celebrating ODM at 20, where we honour the 80 years we had with our late leader Raila Odinga, and discussing the UDA-ODM 10-point agenda,” Nassir said on Thursday, 23 October.
ODM faces a sharp divide over whether to remain in the broad-based government or chart an independent path ahead of the 2027 General Election. Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Joho, John Mbadi, and Opiyo Wandayi, along with national chairperson Gladys Wanga, support maintaining the MoU, while Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna advocates preparing ODM to field a presidential candidate against Ruto.
Nassir expressed confidence that the party would remain united in the post-Raila era. “Our opponents want to see us fall, but we will forge a united way forward and resolve emerging ideological differences,” he said.
These differences, evident even before Raila’s death, have prompted some supporters to threaten Sifuna’s removal. Sifuna, who previously stated he would only leave at Raila’s request, reflected, “I don’t know why Raila chose me as ODM secretary-general, but I am forever grateful.” Despite his criticism of Ruto and the UDA-ODM deal, Raila consistently defended Sifuna’s right to express divergent views.
