ODM divisions rekindle memories of bitter ousters of top leaders

Since the demise of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, his Orange Democratic Movement party has witnessed sharp differences in opinion particularly surrounding the direction it should take in the next General Election.

Even as the ODM’s leadership is exposed over divergent views, they have insisted that it is part of democracy.

But as the party re-aligns itself ahead of the elections, the centre is seemingly no longer holding, with Secretary General Edwin Sifuna leading in opposing attempts to have ODM support re-election of President William Ruto next year.

On Sunday, Sifuna led a section of MPs in vowing that they will field their candidate, which gave yet another indication of two factions emerging from the rubble of broad-based government deal.

This stand has given rise to a collision course with those led by Oburu Oginga, who insist they will support Ruto’s re-election and in the long run, his Secretary General position has been spotlighted.

The focus on Sifuna and initial reports indicating that he could be thrown out of the party, has brought back memories of similar instances of persons who have held senior positions and were either hounded out or resigned.

History of the party, which celebrated 20 years last year, has shown leaders with strong differences in opinion being ousted. In 2014 for instance, then ODM Executive Director, Magerer Lagat, was removed from the party despite the influence he held, for being at odds with senior leaders.

Magerer was forcefully ejected during a Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) parliamentary group meeting.

This was done in the presence of the then CORD leaders Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka, with some Members of the County Assembly youth handing him blows and kicks.

Almost a similar push befell former Secretary General, Ababu Namwamba, which saw him resign from office, citing frustrations, betrayal and lack of respect from some party leaders.

Former Funyula MP, Dr Paul Otuoma also resigned from leadership. Their resignation came after a political storm witnessed within ODM following a rift between Otuoma, who was the then vice chairman and Ababu on one side and then chairman John Mbadi and other ODM leaders from Nyanza on the other.

Otuoma and Ababu had initially threatened to mobilise ODM MPs from Western Region to quit and find a new party, claiming they were being sidelined. 

Political analyst, Javas Bigambo said the jostling for political influence is significant yet none of those who want control of ODM has got absolute power for such an action. He said it is not only difficult to find a new Raila in any of the officials in ODM today but also disturbing how members are going against each other.

“There was no clarity of succession plan…The leaders have been speaking in a manner which is reckless and there is need to demonstrate wisdom. Destruction of ODM is coming from within not from outside. If it is a question of securing the future, it has to come from within. I would want to encourage them to solve issues with sobriety,” he said in an interview with KTN.

According to Bigambo, Sifuna should be a good student of history, that there are those who hold position of Secretary General but have suffered displeasure of oblivion.

“It must be a lesson of history to Sifuna that the issue is not the position he holds as ODM SG, it is important to appreciate that the position should have him as captain to navigate the ship safely to the shore. He should use that position to speak in a manner that invites cohesion in the party,” Bigambo stated.

“We have to learn from history that befell Lagat and Ababu is a fate that may not be remote to Sifuna. It is important to appreciate the weight of history and lessons it avails but beyond that, it will be limiting in perspective, thought and strategy for him or anyone in ODM to imagine this will end in 2027 elections, they should look at ODM beyond and that is where sobriety should be,” he explained.

But as this happens, ODM has commenced its public consultative forum, now visited a number of counties but Sifuna-led team has given them a wide berth. Amid reports of divisions in the party, ODM leaders have had a firm stance that Oburu is their bonafide leader and the only one with authority to negotiate on behalf of the party.

They insisted that Oburu will lead the party into the next political phase, saying they will remain in broad based government where their late party leader, Raila left them.

Oburu has reiterated their decision going forward, saying ODM will remain in the broad based Government until 2027 but will negotiate for their position going beyond the elections.

He has also stated that there are no plans to kick out some of its members including Sifuna, saying any person who wishes to leave the party is allowed to do so independently.