Betrayed in death: Inside ODM's rivalry, greed killing Raila Odinga's legacy

ODM leaders during the celebration of the late former party leader Raila Odinga's 81st birthday, in Kilifi, on January 7, 2026. [Omondi Onyango, Standard] The flowery and nostalgic birthday messages and videos posted by ODM leaders to celebrate party leader Raila Odinga's birthday stand in stark contrast to what is happening in his once-celebrated political outfit, now tottering on the brink of self-destruction. Leaders tried to outdo each other by replaying Raila's past powerful speeches, while others drafted long, detailed and cosmetic social media posts to mark what would have been the 81st birthday of a man who built nearly the political careers of most of them. For someone reading their cosy posthumous birthday messages for the first time, it is hard to imagine they are the same group fighting hard to erode the empire he built. Kenyans and observers who read through the messages accused the ODM brigade of betraying Raila in death. Party adherents also maintained that Raila's dreams and goals for the party have been hijacked by greed for power, personal ambition and deception. Raila's successor in ODM and his elder brother, Oburu Oginga - whom some are now accusing of disintegrating the party - posted a passionate message on his X platform recounting how they grew up as twins. The post attracted criticism and caution from users who believe Raila's lieutenants are on an active mission to crash his party. "The only way to please Baba, ODM must remain distinct and strong! Hapana uza chama yetu (do not sell our party)," Jeff Osiba, an X user, told Oburu.Others claimed there is a ploy by those Raila left behind to protect the party to auction it. "We have failed Raila in death. The controversies we are witnessing and the public spat between those who once claimed to protect his legacy are nauseating," said a senior ODM official. Prior to Raila's demise barely three months ago, he had started an initiative to strengthen the ODM party and hoped to use the party's 20th anniversary celebrations to rejuvenate its grassroots support. Today, however, that feels like a distant memory after an intense period fraught with deep internal rivalries, absurd claims of what he allegedly told a few confidants before he died, and a scramble for power threatening to collapse his legacy. If the dead could hear, Raila is possibly turning in his grave in disappointment. Oburu, who appears to be struggling to steady the ship, is inclined towards an ODM faction pushing for a 2027 pre-election deal to support President William Ruto's second term. Others in this grouping include deputy party leader Abdulswamad Nassir, Chairperson Gladys Wanga, ODM operatives in government - Treasury's John Mbadi and Blue Economy CS Hassan Joho - Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, and a host of other legislators. Party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, deputy party leader Godfrey Osotsi, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, alongside other politicians, appear to be pulling in a different direction. According to observers, yesterday's celebrations of Raila's posthumous birthday were merely a mask - papering over cracks in an empire facing imminent collapse under the weight of greed and a lack of political direction. They believe the ODM train derailed after Raila's death, and what was meant to be a solemn period of reflection and renewal has instead morphed into a bruising contest for power, influence and regional dominance. Raila's last public political project was the planned 20th anniversary celebrations of ODM, intended to kick-start internal reforms, strengthen party institutions and prepare a new generation of leadership grounded in ideology rather than personality. That vision, analysts say, has quickly faded. Political analyst and lawyer Moses Ombayo says the current turmoil within ODM reflects deeper structural weaknesses that Raila spent years trying to manage. He notes that individual greed is the key cause of the current fights, which have seen counter-accusations over who is trying to auction the party - and to whom. "Raila Odinga was more than a party leader; he was the glue that held together competing interests, regions and ambitions," Ombayo notes."With his passing, those suppressed rivalries and personal ambitions are now surfacing aggressively."The controversy has also drawn attention to the role of senior figures who once acted as stabilising forces within the party. Critics argue that some elders, including Oburu, have failed to rise above factional politics at a time when ODM needs moral authority and neutrality. While supporters defend Oburu as a long-serving party loyalist, analysts say his perceived alignment with specific camps has weakened his ability to mediate disputes. Governance expert Francis Ominde says the battle for ODM's soul is being driven by short-term calculations rather than the party's founding ideals. "What we are witnessing is a classic succession crisis. Without clear ideological anchoring, political parties risk becoming platforms for individual careers rather than vehicles for public interest. Raila tried to institutionalise ODM, but many leaders were still loyal to him personally, not to systems," he said.At the centre of the growing tension are perceived attempts to weaken or sideline key party figures, including Osotsi and Sifuna, both of whom command significant support. Any move seen as undermining their roles has sparked sharp reactions from party loyalists, particularly in the Western region. ODM Vihiga branch chairperson Zebedee Osabwa led a group of officials in dismissing claims that the party's Western leadership can be intimidated or displaced through internal schemes. "Those who think they can touch leaders like Godfrey Osotsi and Edwin Sifuna are in for a rude shock," Osabwa said."ODM is strong in Western Kenya because of the trust people have in these leaders and the values they stand for. Any attempts to undermine them will fail."Echoing the same sentiments, Davison Murili, ODM Vihiga County General Secretary, warned that internal betrayal could cost the party dearly. "We will not allow selfish interests to dismantle what Raila Odinga built, and anyone targeting our leaders or trying to destabilise Western region support should know that ODM members are vigilant and united," Murili said.Party insiders privately admit that if the infighting continues unchecked, ODM risks losing its national stature and moral authority. Yesterday, however, the messaging was uniform as leaders celebrated the life and times of the man who built their political careers. In yet another twist, Oburu hosted Sifuna amid calls to rein in tensions between him and a group of legislators pushing for his ouster. The meeting came a day after a Migori senator withdrew a petition he had lodged seeking to de-whip Sifuna and expel him from the party. It remains to be seen whether the withdrawal will translate into peace and unity for a party fraught with deep internal disputes and competing interests. But based on the online feuds that continued among other members, the dream of uniting and preserving Raila's legacy appears distant - almost a mirage. For instance, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang aimed a subtle jibe at city MCA Robert Alai just moments after declaring that they would not betray Raila's cause. "Today, we would have happily celebrated his 80 plus 1 birthday. Baba, we will not betray the cause you fought for. Strategies may change but the cause shall remain," Kajwang posted on his Facebook account. Additional reporting by Brian Kisanji

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