Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka defended Kakamega ODM lawmakers’ absence from a Linda Wananchi rally, saying it promoted a united-opposition political agenda they do not support.
Speaking on Monday, Aseka clarified that ODM MPs from Kakamega are aligned with President William Ruto and therefore could not attend a gathering pushing a political narrative at odds with their stance.
“The Linda Wananchi faction is opposed to President Ruto’s reelection. It is not about handouts or instructions from State House. Their agenda does not align with ours,” he said.
He added that Kakamega leaders recently met the President to discuss his upcoming tour of the county, which will focus on inspecting development projects initiated under his administration.
“Their focus is the united-opposition (and) one-term agenda, while we are working with the government to deliver development,” Frederick Watitwa, deputy minority chief whip of the Kakamega, said. “Skipping the rally was about ideology, not defiance.”
The linda wananchi faction, led locally by supporters of Edwin Sifuna, held a mammoth rally at Amalemba grounds on Saturday, attracting a large crowd. Notably, none of the 10 elected ODM MPs or MCAs from Kakamega attended.
Western regional ODM coordinator Justus Kizito, a supporter of the Oburu Oginga-led camp, attended the rally alongside several county-level aspirants, highlighting the widening ideological divide within the party.
Observers say the absence of Kakamega representatives underscores a growing regional and factional split within the Orange party, reflecting broader national tensions between party loyalists aligned with Ruto and factions pursuing a united-opposition strategy ahead of the 2027 election.
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