Owili warns internal ODM rifts threaten 2027 election strategy

Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathew Owili has warned that growing divisions within ODM risk weakening party’s influence and bargaining power ahead of the polls.

Speaking in Kisumu, Owili expressed concern over the party’s current trajectory.

While reaffirming his unwavering loyalty to ODM, he admitted that the party is increasingly fractured into two distinct rival camps.

One faction is mobilising to unseat President William Ruto while another has openly aligned itself with the President’s re-election campaign, he said.

Owili, a key loyalist and Kisumu governor aspirant, warned that the infighting is premature and strategically dangerous.

He argued that public confrontation only diminishes the party’s influence during high-stakes national dialogue.

“If we continue this internal war, we weaken our seat at the table,” the deputy governor said, urging members to pursue dialogue rather than open hostility.

Owili emphasised that ODM must not commit to any political alliance without a structured negotiation process.

He advocated a more professional approach to coalition building, insisting that any future agreements must be formally documented, properly written and signed to prevent breaches.

“It should be strategically built on a clear consensus on who should lead the talks and which policy issues must be prioritised.”

He noted that the party has yet to finalise its official negotiators or core agenda, making the current scramble for factions counterproductive.

In a bid to foster reconciliation, Owili rejected calls to expel dissenting members.

He invoked the legacy of the ODM founder Raila Odinga, saying the veteran leader championed inclusivity and political tolerance.

“If Raila could lend a hand to those he disagreed with, then nothing is impossible for us,” Owili said. He added that, in the spirit of Raila, members should come together and find common ground.

The deputy governor warned that without a unified front and a legally binding roadmap, ODM risks entering the 2027 election cycle at a significant disadvantage.