Speaking at a party forum shortly after the ODM Central Committee meeting held in Kilifi, Aladwa publicly declared support for the proposed broad-based government and affirmed ODM’s readiness to work with the ruling coalition.
In a statement that has since sparked intense debate within political circles, Aladwa said ODM fully agrees with the resolutions passed in Kilifi and will support President Ruto and the government he is forming.
He added that party members who are uncomfortable with the new direction are free to step aside.
The remarks shows a growing assertiveness by a faction within ODM that believes engagement with the government is both pragmatic and necessary.
Aladwa’s position reflects resolutions adopted by ODM’s top organs, which endorsed structured engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The Makadara MP emphasized party discipline and collective decision-making, noting that ODM has constitutional structures that guide such major political choices.
According to him, once party organs have spoken, members are expected to align with the agreed position or make personal decisions about their political future. His remarks were widely interpreted as a warning against public dissent that could weaken the party’s bargaining power.
However, the declaration has also exposed deep ideological and strategic divisions within ODM. Critics of the Kilifi resolutions fear that close cooperation with the ruling coalition could dilute the party’s identity as an opposition force and alienate sections of its support base.
They argue that ODM’s historical role as a reformist movement requires it to maintain a clear distance from the government and provide robust oversight.
Despite the internal debate, George Aladwa maintained that unity and realism must guide the party as it navigates a rapidly evolving political environment.
He stressed that ODM’s participation in national governance should be viewed through the lens of service delivery rather than political purity.
The statements captured in the widely circulated image have intensified conversations ahead of the party’s National Delegates Convention, where ODM’s future path is expected to be formally debated and ratified.
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