The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) cracks continue to widen as the party faces mounting internal friction in its traditional Luo Nyanza bastion with Siaya Governor James Orengo and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo skipping a crucial consultative meeting convened by party leader Oburu Oginga.
The gathering, intended to shore up party cohesion ahead of upcoming mobilizations event in Siaya, instead highlighted deepening divisions and raised questions of which were shelved, ostensibly, because they required more consultation.
Deputy Governor William Oduol represented the governor’s office, joining Siaya Woman Representative Christine Ombaka, Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, and Ugenya MP David Ochieng’—the latter a notable figure from the rival Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) whose presence signals potential cross-party maneuvering in the region.
Insiders privy to the closed-door discussions revealed that participants dissected several sensitive issues. Chief among them: the reasons Siaya MCAs declined an invitation to State House, interpreted as a deliberate show of resistance to perceived alignment with the national government. Conversations then shifted to the high-stakes 2027 gubernatorial contest—who should carry the ODM flag or if not, who should be the consensus candidate —and strategies to consolidate aspirants behind the party’s “Linda Ground” agenda, a grassroots effort to safeguard core strongholds in Nyanza, Western, and Coastal regions.
Speculation is rife about former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo’s quiet re-engagement with ODM figures. Now chairing the Kenya Sugar Board Authority, Gumbo—who previously ran on a UDM ticket for governor—is seen by some as a potential compromise candidate. A rumored ticket configuration pairing Gumbo with Oduol or Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda as deputy would leverage regional voting blocs to mount a serious challenge to Orengo’s incumbency.
A wildcard argument for an Oduol-Okode (meaning Deputy Governor William Oduol and Assembly Speaker George Okode) card was casually broached.
Orengo, a veteran politician with formidable legal credentials and deep grassroots networks, remains a towering force despite the snub. Yet his absence, alongside that of Amollo—ODM’s vice chair who has publicly downplayed any gubernatorial ambitions—fuels perceptions of strategic distancing from Oburu’s camp.
The episode mirrors broader turbulence within ODM. Oburu is rallying supporters for a major “Linda Ground” event set for February 21 at Ahindi Gardens in Siaya, emphasizing unity and collective pursuit of power: “Tunataka power, na lazima tulete pamoja wafuasi na viongozi wote wa ODM.” In contrast, allies including Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Orengo are advancing parallel “Linda Mwananchi” activities, including a weekend tour set for Kakamega, championing internal democracy and reform.
Siaya’s succession drama is no longer a local affair—it tests ODM’s ability to manage generational transitions, balance loyalty with renewal, and prevent fragmentation ahead of 2027. With rival mobilizations gaining momentum and backroom negotiations intensifying, the party’s symbolic heartland could determine whether ODM emerges unified or divided on the national stage.
As one insider put it, the real question is whether the center can hold amid competing visions for the party’s future.
