As the party navigates its future direction particularly its participation in the broad-based government with President William Ruto and preparations for the 2027 elections political analyst Herman Manyora has called on party leader Oburu Odinga to take decisive action.
Manyora has urged Oburu to immediately convene a high-level meeting involving key figures, including Siaya Governor James Orengo, Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, and other senior leaders, to foster dialogue and prevent further fragmentation.
ODM has been rocked by public spats and factional alignments since Raila's death. A major fault line runs between those supporting continued cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza administration (backed by Oburu, Junet Mohamed, and others) and those advocating for a return to opposition roots or a reevaluation of the partnership (including voices aligned with Sifuna, Orengo, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino).
Recent developments include:
A high-profile meeting on January 8, 2026, convened by Sifuna, which brought together Orengo, Ruth Odinga (Kisumu Woman Representative), Babu Owino, former Attorney General Amos Wako, and others. The gathering focused on unity, dialogue, and calls for a National Delegates Conference (NDC) to address leadership and direction.
Public criticism from some quarters labeling the meeting as involving "rebel leaders," prompting Migori Senator Eddy Oketch to urge Oburu's intervention and an immediate NDC.
Oburu's separate engagements, including meetings with Sifuna (praising him as a "sober and principled voice") and Junet Mohamed, amid a Central Management Committee session in Vipingo, Kilifi, on January 12, 2026, where Sifuna's absence raised eyebrows.
Ongoing debates over whether ODM should exit the broad-based arrangement, field its own presidential candidate in 2027, or deepen ties with the government.
These events have fueled speculation of a potential split, with accusations of external interference, leadership ambitions (e.g., Babu Owino positioning himself as a successor), and questions over internal democracy.
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