Sifuna team asks Winnie to shun Oburu camp amid plans to instal her as deputy

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino address the press at a hotel in Nairobi yesterday /EZEKIEL AMING’A

Members of Linda Mwananchi's team, including Siaya Governor James Orengo and ODM deputy party leader Godfrey Osotsi, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Caroli Omondi (Suba South) told Winnie to steer clear of the rival camp.

They instead want her to retrace her steps and rejoin the Linda Mwananchi team, a breakaway faction opposed to the re-election of President William Ruto.

“She (Winnie) is bigger than the pond that she is heading to; she should join the ocean. This (Linda Mwananchi) is the ocean,” Babu told Winnie.

On Tuesday, Winnie joined the ODM Linda Ground Nairobi branch, where she was endorsed not only as a delegate from Kibra but also touted to assume the deputy party leader position at the ODM National Delegates Convention (NDC) on Friday next week.

Osotsi cautioned Winnie against aligning herself with what they describe as a divisive agenda, arguing that the Oburu camp is trying to use her to get legitimacy for their ‘unconstitutional’ delegates meeting.

“Winnie has a democratic right to decide whether she wants to be the party leader, but she needs to tread carefully because those in the Linda Ground team want to use her to confirm people without competition; there is a sinister motive,” Osotsi said.

According to Orengo, Winnie’s soul is with the Linda Mwananchi camp even if her body ‘joins’ the Linda Ground team.

“I do not care where her body is; I care where her soul is. Her soul is where her father’s spirit is and where the people are,” Orengo stated.

The leaders were addressing a press conference in Nairobi, where they also announced that they will not attend the NDC convened by Oburu and instead will hold a parallel ‘ People’s NDC’ in Nairobi on the same day.

Osotsi termed the Oburu camp’s NDC unconstitutional, saying some counties are yet to finalise the election of delegates.

“We are not going to participate in that NDC that will be convened by the Linda Ground team because that NDC is unconstitutional,” the Vihiga senator said.

Sources within the Linda Ground team intimated to the Star that efforts are underway by the Oburu-led group to front Winnie as a possible replacement for Godfrey Osotsi.

“It is simple, if they don’t attend, we shall have a proposer and seconder to replace him with Winnie, who is more than qualified,” an ODM source told the Star.

Yesterday, Osotsi reiterated that he is not bothered about the plans, insisting that he will not be party to confirmation instead of competitive elections.

“They want to do an NDC where they just confirm officials. I do not want to appear before supporters just to be confirmed as deputy party leader,” he said.

Some Chungwa House sources, however, talked of plans to amend the party constitution and expand deputy party slots to four to accommodate Winnie.

Yesterday, the Linda Mwananchi team told party supporters to ignore Oburu’s camp and attend a parallel 'people’s NDC' slated for the same day in Nairobi.

“Any ODM member should be aware that the NDC convened by Linda Ground is illegal and should be avoided," Osotsi said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The emergence of parallel conventions underscores simmering divisions within ODM, with competing camps jostling for influence and control of the party’s direction. Analysts warn that the standoff could test the party’s unity at a critical political moment.