ODM split: Sifuna-led wing vows to contest 2027 presidency

ODM leaders led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna during a church service in kawangware, Nairobi, on January 25, 2026. [Bernard Orwongo, Standard]

The rift within the ODM Party deepened on Sunday when a faction associated with Secretary General Edwin Sifuna insisted it would field a presidential candidate in 2027, while Oburu Oginga’s camp pledged to support President William Ruto.

Speaking in Nairobi, Sifuna’s team argued that the late party leader Raila Odinga’s last wishes were for ODM to present its own candidate. Oburu’s faction, however, maintained that Raila had left them in the broad-based arrangement upon his death, and they would not renege on it.

ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi, Siaya Senator James Orengo, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, among other leaders hosted by Sifuna during a church service in Kawangware, later addressed roadside rallies, vowing to ensure ODM fields a candidate in the next General Election.

“The problem I have with some of my colleagues in the ODM Party is that they have never convinced us why we should support William Ruto for a second term. We are determined to field our own presidential candidate, just as Raila would have wanted,” said Sifuna.

The Nairobi Senator added that he was prepared to face political rivals, whom he accused of sharpening knives against him instead of focusing on building the party Raila founded 20 years ago. “They are more interested in destroying it from within,” he said.

Sifuna called for respect for Raila’s family, noting the sacrifices they made during the late leader’s fight for the second liberation of the country. He criticised party members who vilified the family, calling such actions unacceptable.

Orengo said anyone attempting to remove Sifuna as ODM Secretary General did not wish the party well and was effectively trying to kill it. “The 10-point agendas were not about forming a political coalition, but about addressing critical issues, such as the high cost of living and compensating families who lost loved ones during the Gen Z protests, among other matters. Most of these have not been implemented,” Orengo said.

The Siaya Senator said Raila had insisted on opening the election servers, certain that he had won the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections. He stated that if Ruto were a genuine friend of Raila, he would facilitate this before seeking ODM’s support. “Before ODM leaders engage with Ruto, they must establish whether it was Ruto or Raila who won the 2022 election. I have weathered storms under previous administrations and I am ready to continue standing for Kenyans,” he added.

“ODM must not be sold to our competitors. We have witnessed opulence among some party leaders recently. We cannot have talks with opponents who already have a presidential candidate while we do not,” Orengo warned.

Osotsi emphasised that ODM would field a presidential candidate as Raila intended in his last public engagement in Nairobi before falling ill and later dying in India. He assured the public that the leaders present at the meeting would contest for the presidency in 2027 under the ODM ticket, in line with Raila’s vision.

Osotsi further alleged that millions of shillings had been given to some ODM leaders to support the “two terms movement,” funds that should have been used to ensure free education and implement the National Health Insurance Fund. He expressed concern that these leaders had gone against Raila’s ideals.

“We cannot accept Sifuna being removed from his position. If that happens, we will leave the party en masse. Sifuna has done nothing wrong; he has continued the legacy of late leaders Masinde Muliro and Kijana Wamalwa,” Osotsi said.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino added that Raila never left the party to seek alliances elsewhere; it was other parties that approached him. He stressed that ODM must not be auctioned, calling for the National Delegates Conference to be convened, with Sifuna empowered to do so as Secretary General. “We are heading to Canaan. We cannot turn back or go to Singapore, which is far away. We cannot allow our party to be auctioned,” he said.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka urged Sifuna, Orengo, and Babu to resist attempts to “auction” the party and instead unite with like-minded members to rescue the country from mismanagement by the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi likened ODM to a bus driven by Raila, which had been hit by a lorry carrying charcoal, driven by Ruto. He said after Raila’s death, Oburu took over the steering wheel but had diverted the party from its intended destination. Amisi accused some of Oburu’s allies of being complacent, enjoying privileges while the party veered off course.

Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo said Raila had urged party members to remain brave and fight for Kenyans’ rights. He noted that Kenyans had lost hope in the current government, and ODM must continue to advocate for citizens.

Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo, who serves on the Education Committee, dismissed claims that children could attend school without fees, warning that such promises were unrealistic.

Machoge Borabu MP Obadiah Barongo stressed that ODM has never been a party that begs to join government. He said members must be consulted on whether they support one-term or two-term arrangements in government, insisting that internal dialogue and consensus remain crucial for the party’s cohesion.