ODM power row revives Raila-Orengo era rivalry
Politics
By
Edwin Nyarangi
| May 04, 2026
The political contest between Siaya Governor James Orengo and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga for control of the ODM party has rekindled old power struggles in Luo Nyanza, reminiscent of the 1990s Ford Kenya battles between Orengo and the late Raila Odinga.
Dr Oburu, who succeeded his late brother Raila as ODM Party Leader, heads the ODM Linda Ground faction. This group includes party National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, and other senior figures.
Governor Orengo, on the other hand, leads the rival ODM Linda Mwananchi team, which comprises embattled Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and other key leaders. The emerging contest has left many wondering which side will blink first.
In the past two months, the Orengo-led team has traversed the country, drawing large crowds. Starting with an inaugural rally in Nairobi, they have since held successful meetings in Kajiado, Kakamega, Nakuru, Mombasa, Vihiga and Kisumu, as they seek nationwide support.
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Orengo has emerged as a staunch defender of Edwin Sifuna’s position as ODM Secretary General, even as the Oburu faction insists Sifuna no longer holds the post and is instead pushing Busia MP Catherine Omanyo to replace him.
“I would like to ask President William Ruto to leave ODM alone. He is the one behind all these wars you are seeing,” Orengo said.
The Siaya Governor noted that during Sifuna’s tenure as Secretary General, Raila Odinga never publicly rebuked or criticised him. He questioned why the current leadership now has a problem with Sifuna, describing it as a deliberate attempt to weaken Kenya’s largest opposition party.
Orengo revealed that during his first meeting with President Ruto after being elected governor, he urged him not to interfere with or undermine political parties. He now claims the current turmoil in ODM is being orchestrated by the President for political advantage.
Orengo was a close ally of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in Ford Kenya. Following Jaramogi’s death in January 1994, a bitter succession battle emerged between Orengo and Raila Odinga for leadership of the Luo community.
Orengo aligned with the late Saboti MP Michael Kijana Wamalwa and then Kikuyu MP Paul Muite, while Raila opposed them. Wamalwa was eventually chosen to replace Jaramogi, a move Raila strongly resisted.
Raila later quit Ford Kenya, resigned as Lang’ata MP, and successfully contested a by-election on a National Development Party (NDP) ticket in 1996. He went on to run for president in 1997, finishing third behind President Daniel Arap Moi.
Orengo remained in Ford Kenya and was re-elected as Ugenya MP. Raila’s NDP, however, dominated most parliamentary seats in Nyanza.
Their rivalry continued until 2002, when Orengo ran for president on a Social Democratic Party ticket and finished fourth. Raila backed Mwai Kibaki under the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), which won the election. Orengo subsequently spent five years in political wilderness, focusing on legal practice.
The two reconciled ahead of the 2007 General Election, with Orengo supporting Raila’s presidential bid. Following the disputed election and post-election violence, Orengo was one of the ODM representatives in peace talks chaired by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Thereafter, Orengo remained one of Raila’s closest allies until his death in October last year. He defended ODM in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 presidential election petitions at the Supreme Court.
Osotsi and Sifuna have openly backed Orengo for a senior leadership role in ODM.