Natembeya warns Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi against forming new party

Governor George Natembeya speaking in Kitale town/FILE

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has warned leaders linked to the Linda Mwananchi movement against turning the faction into a political party.

He said such a move could split the opposition and inadvertently strengthen President William Ruto’s chances of re-election.

Natembeya said the ongoing dispute within ODM should remain an internal matter rather than evolve into a separate political outfit.

He spoke on JKLive Show on Citizen TV on Wednesday night.

The governor said leaders within the opposition coalition are closely watching developments within ODM but insisted that a split would weaken the broader opposition movement.

“On the story about Linda Mwananchi, I have never been in any of those events. This is basically an internal ODM issue and how they are relating with the government. For us in Azimio, we are basically bystanders viewing how events are unfolding and we hope it ends well,” he said.

Natembeya said the disagreements appear to have created two distinct camps within ODM, reflecting differing views on the party’s relationship with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“It looks like there are two sides of ODM, one is supporting the current broad-based government led by the ODM party leader Oburu Oginga and the other faction led by Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino and James Orengo, who are not for the broad-based arrangement,” he said.

Natembeya said the concerns being raised by the group opposing the arrangement mirror arguments that were voiced earlier when ODM leader Raila Odinga entered into cooperation with the government.

“The arrangement where Raila went to the government, some of us did not support it and the people who are opposing it from within, are basically echoing the view we had when Raila Odinga joined William Ruto,” he said.

However, the governor warned that the situation could become politically damaging if the faction associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement attempts to formally break away from ODM and establish a separate political vehicle.

“My personal view is that it will be a disaster, because their views are basically the views of the opposition and as the opposition, we want to be united. Now, if they branched off and formed another wing of opposition, they are going to reduce our votes and inevitably help Ruto get another term. For me, I would greatly discourage that type of direction,” he said.

The debate around the movement comes at a time when tensions have been growing within ODM over the implementation of the 10-point agenda agreed between the party and the ruling coalition.

During a press briefing earlier in the week, Sifuna criticised a report presented at KICC on the progress of the agenda, describing the event as a “charade” and insisting the commitments had not been fulfilled.

Despite the disagreements, Sifuna maintained that the Linda Mwananchi movement remains part of ODM and has no intention of leaving the party.

“We are not leaving ODM. This party belongs to all of us. We are here to fight for this party,” Sifuna said during the press briefing, dismissing speculation that the faction was preparing to form a new political outfit.