The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) could be staring at a generational rift if youthful firebrands like Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino make good their threat to exit the party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Both Sifuna, the ODM Secretary-General, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, have expressed frustration with the party’s leadership, accusing it of frustrating the ambitions of younger leaders. Their warning echoes that of Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, who last month said he would not defend his seat on an ODM ticket if the party’s cooperation with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance persists.
Political analyst Dr. Brian Lumala says the defections would mark a turning point.
“If Sifuna, Babu, and Amisi leave ODM, they won’t go alone. They will carry their support base with them, and that is where the danger lies. ODM risks losing ground among urban and youthful voters,” he noted.
ODM’s older guard, however, remains unshaken. Loyalists such as Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga have dismissed the threats, urging dissatisfied leaders to decamp rather than destabilise the party from within.
> “ODM is bigger than individuals. Those unhappy can find their way out, but they must also be ready to face voters’ wrath in 2027,” Oburu cautioned.
The potential fallout highlights the growing tension between ODM’s old guard, which remains firmly aligned to Raila Odinga, and an ambitious younger generation that feels increasingly boxed out of decision-making.
Should the youth bloc break away, it could fragment the traditional ODM support base, weaken Raila’s influence, and open the door for rival formations to capture disillusioned urban voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
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