By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 18 January 2026 - The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is mounting a coordinated push to project unity and discipline as senior leaders publicly reaffirm loyalty to the party amid its cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration.
From Parliament to county governments, ODM figures are increasingly framing internal cohesion as critical to the party’s survival, influence and future electoral strength.
The show of unity follows Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi’s sharp criticism of regional and exclusionary politics, remarks that have resonated across the party and triggered renewed calls for solidarity.
ODM party leader and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, one of ODM’s longest-serving figures, warned that internal fragmentation could undo decades of political organising.
Stressing collective responsibility, Oburu said unity was not optional for a party with national ambitions.
“ODM has endured because we have always put the party above individual interests. The moment we turn against each other, we weaken the movement and betray the people who believe in us,” Oburu said.
Former ODM deputy party leader and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who is the current Cabinet Secretary for MSMEs, defended the party’s engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration, insisting that cooperation should not be confused with abandonment of principles.
“Working with the government is a strategic decision meant to benefit Kenyans. Unity within ODM is what gives us the strength to influence policy and protect our values,” CS Oparanya said.
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera cautioned party members against public infighting, arguing that divisions only serve political competitors.
Speaking earlier in Butere, Nabwera said ODM’s bargaining power at the national level depends on internal cohesion.
“ODM’s strength lies in its unity. When we fight among ourselves, we hand our rivals an easy victory. We must close ranks and focus on growing the party,” Nabwera said.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed was more direct in dismissing claims that ODM had lost its identity through cooperation with President Ruto.
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Junet maintained that unity allows the party to engage government from a position of strength rather than weakness.
“We are ODM and we remain ODM. Supporting government initiatives that help Kenyans does not erase our ideology. Unity is what allows us to shape the national agenda,” Junet said.
ODM chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga urged members to respect party structures and resolve disagreements internally.
She warned that public dissent risks eroding confidence in the party’s leadership and long-term vision.
“ODM is bigger than any individual. If we truly love this party, we must protect it, strengthen it and speak with one voice as we prepare for the future,” Wanga said.
Senator Moses Kajwang’ linked unity to ODM’s historical identity as a national movement rather than a regional outfit. He cautioned that internal divisions could revive the same regional politics ODM leaders are openly criticising.
“When ODM is united, it defines national debate. When we are divided, we become weak and predictable. Unity is what has always made us a national force,” Kajwang’ said.
They were speaking during the first post Raila Odinga- delegates meeting at the Kakamega Golf Course.
Together, the statements reflect a deliberate effort by ODM’s top leadership to steady the party amid shifting political alliances and internal debate over cooperation with the ruling coalition. While differences of opinion persist, the dominant message from ODM’s senior ranks is that unity remains the party’s most valuable political asset.
As Kenya’s political landscape continues to evolve, ODM’s ability to maintain internal cohesion may ultimately determine whether it remains a formidable national player—or risks being undermined by the very divisions its leaders are now warning against.
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