Etale: ODM is united and will remain so

ODM communications director Philip Etale

As cracks within the Orange Democratic Movement appear to widen by the day, party insiders have moved to allay fears that the opposition outfit is on the brink of a split, even as internal dissent becomes more pronounced.

Those fears were amplified on Sunday when Winnie Odinga, daughter of former ODM leader Raila Odinga, publicly took on a section of the party’s leadership—including her uncle, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga—accusing them of hijacking the party for selfish gain.

Kamukunji Grounds in Kibra became Winnie’s latest launchpad for a blistering attack on what she described as a faction making unilateral decisions and threatening critics of a proposed ODM–UDA pre-election coalition agreement.

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP, who is increasingly viewed as Raila’s political heir, accused unnamed leaders of sycophancy and making false claims of political proximity to Raila.

“We were passengers and Baba was the driver; then one day Baba was no more. Suddenly, those who were near him rushed to the steering wheel and started pulling this way and that way, while pushing us around like luggage,” Winnie said amid wild cheers from supporters.

She said the Odinga family did not belong to either of the emerging factions but to “the side that belongs to Baba”.

“Baba was never a sycophant,” she said, accusing the leaders of hypocrisy and of using Raila in life and death for personal gain.

“Baba died just the other day, what’s the hurry? Let us talk first and move forward together. Those claiming that Baba told them this or that privately are being disrespectful. Everything Baba said was said openly in front of his people,” she said.

Winnie’s rally ran parallel to a mobilisation meeting held in Kakamega under Oginga’s stewardship, dubbed Linda Ground, further fuelling speculation of internal turmoil within the ODM ranks.

However, in a statement on Tuesday, ODM communications director Philip Etale dismissed the claims as unfounded.

“The one thing I want to tell you with authority is that ODM is one and will forever be so. Forget the sententious things being said right, left and centre by our adversaries. ODM is united and the D in the party is at work,” Etale said.

Etale appeared to echo remarks by party leader Oburu Oginga, who last Wednesday said the party would not expel anyone, instead asking those dissatisfied to leave on their own volition.

Oginga’s comments were widely interpreted as being directed at Nairobi Senator and ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, both of whom have publicly opposed plans to forge a pre-election coalition with President William Ruto.

Some party members have called for their expulsion, a stance Oginga sought to dissociate himself from.

“We must remain united as a party and we do not intend to chase anyone away. Those who wish to leave should do so on their own,” Oginga said during his first rally at Kamukunji Grounds.

On Monday, Minority Leader and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed reaffirmed Oginga’s leadership in an apparent response to Winnie’s suggestion that an upcoming national delegates conference could usher in major leadership changes.

“There’s only one indivisible ODM party led by party leader Oburu Oginga. The earlier that sinks in, the better,” Junet said.

During Sunday’s rally, Winnie warned that ODM risked losing public support due to leaders she accused of betraying its founding values.

“There are people who never believed in Baba; they were just using him. Some of them were never there during ODM struggles. They talk too much, and when we question them, they tell us to leave. If we all leave, who will remain?” she posed.

She insisted that no one would leave because the party belongs to the people. “I bring greetings from Babu Owino and Edwin Sifuna. We are united,” she said.