Gem MP Odhiambo Warns ODM Critics as Leaders Clash Over Party Direction

By Kepher Otieno - Reporter

Kenya, 31 December 2025 - The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing mounting internal tensions as senior leaders clash over whether to engage with President William Ruto’s government.

The debate, increasingly played out in public forums and on social media, underscores divisions on strategy, leadership, and the party’s approach to its grassroots base.

Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo yesterday issued a stark warning to ODM colleagues who have been hesitant to support the ruling coalition.

Speaking at a thanksgiving event in Mutumbu, Siaya County, Odhiambo cautioned, “Some leaders are being cagey about working with the government, and their insistence on confrontation risks sidelining the party from national decision-making.”

He urged a pragmatic approach, describing collaboration with Kenya Kwanza under the Broad Based government (BBG) framework as a strategic necessity rather than a compromise.

The message appeared to be directed at ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Siaya governor James Orengo, who have been notably reserved in backing the ruling coalition.

Both leaders have historically emphasized ODM’s identity and the need to maintain a firm opposition stance, signaling reluctance to fully embrace engagement with Ruto’s administration.

Orengo has warned that working with or joining the government may weaken ODM strength and reduce it to a regional party thus losing national acclaim.

Sifuna,too, feels otherwise that the should by 2027 join united opposition.

Their caution, Odhiambo suggests, may inadvertently marginalize the party from key national decisions.

In contrast, ODM leaders such as National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed and its current leader and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga have publicly championed unity and collaboration with the government.

Junet, in particular, has pushed back against what he describes as obstructionist tendencies, insisting that ODM must work with Ruto under the BBG formation to deliver tangible benefits to constituents.

Similarly, senior leaders like CS John Mbadi (Treasury ), and Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), have signaled support for pragmatic engagement, aligning with the notion that strategic cooperation strengthens the party’s influence.

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Odhiambo’s intervention has sparked debate within the party, highlighting a generational and ideological divide.

On one side are leaders like Sifuna and Orengo, who prioritize maintaining ODM’s opposition and caution against over-alignment with government.

On the other are MPs and leaders such as Junet, Oburu, CS Wandayi, and Mbadi, who argue that selective engagement allows the party to remain relevant while safeguarding its political base.

The tension carries significant implications in ODM’s stronghold of Nyanza, where constituents closely monitor how the party balances principle with pragmatism.

Leaders advocating engagement contend that collaboration with the government ensures development projects reach the grassroots, while critics warn that over-cooperation risks alienating loyal supporters and diluting ODM’s identity ahead of the 2027 elections.

Analysts note that Odhiambo’s warning is both tactical and symbolic.

The MPs urging caution against obstructionism, is signaling that ODM’s influence on national policymaking hinges on a willingness to work within the BBG framework.

His remarks also implicitly challenge Sifuna and Orengo to reconsider their stance, highlighting the high stakes of internal disunity at a time when Kenya’s political landscape is shifting rapidly.

Ultimately, the unfolding debate is a test of ODM’s ability to reconcile internal differences while retaining its core identity.

How the party navigates the balance between pragmatic governance and principled opposition will not only shape its immediate engagement with the Ruto administration but also determine its broader relevance and cohesion ahead of upcoming elections.

Odhiambo’s call for collaboration may mark a turning point, urging leaders previously hesitant to rethink their position and work with the government for the collective good of the party and its supporters.