Gloria Orwoba takes on Gladys Wanga over ODM leadership ambitions, succeeding Raila Odinga

Gloria Orwoba has launched a scathing attack on Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, accusing her of attempting to position herself as the successor to the late opposition leader Raila Odinga. She questioned Wanga's recent public appearances and remarks, suggesting that the governor was too eager to step into Odinga's shoes barely days after his burial. "Some people are going out of their way to hold press conferences to replace Raila," Orwoba declared, referring to Wanga's recent string of public addresses. "You're not going to replace Baba by calling press conferences." Her comments come at a time when ODM is grappling with deep uncertainty about its future leadership following Odinga's death. The party, long synonymous with his name and charisma, now faces an internal power scramble as key figures jostle to define the next phase of Kenya's opposition politics. Orwoba known for her blunt political style and her past association with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has increasingly positioned herself as an independent voice within Kenya's shifting political landscape. Her criticism of Wanga reflects not only ODM's internal power struggles but also her own complex political journey. Once a vocal supporter of President William Ruto's administration, Orwoba has more recently found herself at odds with the government after a series of controversies and disciplinary issues that culminated in her suspension from the Senate earlier this year. Her suspension, which she attributed to political witch-hunting and gender bias, has since become emblematic of her career. "I was punished for speaking out," she said in a past interview. "But I won't be silenced when I see the same mistakes being repeated by the opposition." In this latest dispute, Orwoba accuses Wanga of exploiting Odinga's legacy for personal gain, arguing that true leadership cannot be built through media optics or political proximity. Gloria Orwoba: The direct beneficiaries of the rift between Mt. Kenya and Luo Nyanza are leaders like Gladys Wanga, who can now broker deals with President William Ruto, which is exactly what they're doing right now.#TheSituationRoom Hosts: @dennisaseto @nduokohProducer:... pic.twitter.com/8Fy18uOPEP - SpiceFM (@SpiceFMKE) October 24, 2025 "The direct beneficiaries of the rift between Mt. Kenya and Luo Nyanza are leaders like Gladys Wanga, who can now broker deals with President William Ruto, which is exactly what they're doing right now," she further said. Governor Wanga has yet to respond directly to Orwoba's criticism, but in her recent speeches, she has emphasized the importance of unity within ODM and the need to maintain dialogue with President Ruto to ensure national stability.

Gloria Orwoba takes on Gladys Wanga over ODM leadership ambitions, succeeding Raila Odinga

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Related Topics

Similar Articles

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

Similar Articles

Kenya to host green hydrogen symposium as country positions for the global stage

Kingdom Bank deepens MSME push with Industrial Area branch

Court declines to lift orders blocking Safaricom sale as Vodafone loses bid to exit case

Kenya blockchain industry urges faster stablecoin adoption amid new digital asset rules

DIGGER JOBS

Digger Motors

Digger Real Estate

Gloria Orwoba takes on Gladys Wanga over ODM leadership ambitions, succeeding Raila Odinga

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Related Topics

Similar Articles

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS