A fierce political storm is brewing inside the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after senior party leaders publicly accused ousted Secretary General and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna of working with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to undermine the party in its traditional strongholds.
The explosive claims were made during high-energy rallies in Kilifi County on Friday, laying bare deepening cracks within Orange Democratic Movement as internal power struggles intensify.
Speaking in Magarini and Kilifi South, party heavyweights led by National Chairperson Gladys Wanga declared that ODM remains united despite what they termed as “sabotage from within.”
The leaders threw their weight behind Catherine Omanyo as their preferred Secretary General, signaling a decisive shift in the party’s internal alignment.
They also urged supporters to stand firmly behind party leader Oburu Oginga as he steers delicate negotiations with President William Ruto and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
In their sharpest attack yet, ODM insiders alleged that Sifuna and like-minded figures opposed to a broad-based political arrangement have quietly formed or aligned with a rival political vehicle linked to opposition forces.
While no formal evidence was tabled at the rallies, the accusations underscore escalating mistrust within ODM’s top ranks and could signal a looming realignment ahead of future political contests.
The Kilifi meetings come at a sensitive moment as ODM explores a possible working relationship with UDA — a move that has sharply divided opinion within the party.
Proponents argue the broad-based approach could unlock development opportunities and political stability, while critics fear it risks diluting ODM’s opposition identity.
With grassroots mobilization now underway and rival camps digging in, ODM faces one of its most consequential internal tests in recent years.
Political observers warn that unless the party manages the fallout carefully, the simmering tensions could reshape loyalties in key ODM strongholds across the Coast and beyond.
