We'll back Orengo to unseat Ruto, ODM Linda Mwananchi faction

The rift in the ODM has deepened as the Linda Mwananchi faction has declared Siaya Governor  James Orengo as the Acting ODM Party leader and a possible challenger of President William Ruto in the 2027 polls, vowing to produce a Presidential candidate to unseat Ruto in the upcoming general election.

Speaking at the rally in Majengo and Luanda areas, leaders said the ODM splinter faction would form the next government.

"The next President will come from Linda Mwananchi, the next President is with this wing and we will form the next government by unseating Ruto," said Osotsi amid applause from the crowd.

The host Senator, Godfrey Osotsi, was the first to declare Orengo their leader.

"We have leaders who are capable of becoming the President, and we are declaring Orengo as our acting party leader. He has experience and what it takes; he has walked with us as a young person and a long-term friend of Raila Odinga, and he is our elder, and therefore we don't need the service and guidance of Oburu Oginga," said Osotsi.

Osotsi said Ruto and Oburu are using goons to separate Luos and Luhyas in order to achieve his divide and rule tactic.

"We're being attacked because we have refused to sing and join the praise and worship team of Ruto's two term slogan and of questioning Ruto's leadership, his failed pledges including the ten point agenda where he has bought all elected leaders but i will not be silenced i will continue speaking to power the truth and defend my people until Ruto is a one term president,"said Osotsi.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna backed the sentiment, welcoming Orengo to the podium and overseeing a brief installation where the Governor was given the instrument of power in the form of a walking stick.

"Now it is time to welcome our party leader, James Orengo, and I have ordered the purchase of a large cock for our party leader, and as things stand, I am still legally the Secretary General of ODM and minority Leader in the assembly", said Sifuna.

Sifuna criticised Oburu for downplaying Raila’s wish for the party to have a presidential candidate in the 2027 polls.

"We have seen people like Oburu speaking of what Raila told them, but what we know, and it is in the public domain, is that Raila said ODM will have a Presidential candidate in 2027," said Sifuna.

The Senator added that the faction has ideas, brains and the people, unlike UDA, which he said has resorted to violence.

"Raila taught that politics is always about persuasion and something to bulldoze. Our side has people with brains, we have a constitution on our side, ideas and the people, and that is why Ruto’s UDA has resorted to violence,"said Sifuna.

Sifuna urged supporters and people of Nyanza and Western regions not to allow it to be divided by Ruto and Oburu.

"We want to urge our people to come out in large numbers and attend tomorrow's rally in Kisumu. We have lived in peace and harmony as Luos and Luhyas under Raila, and we have never fought each other and therefore the people from the two communities should not allow themselves to be divided by use of a select few goons to assault leaders to create unnecessary tension and rift,"said Sifuna.

Governor Orengo said he would not allow ODM to be swallowed. "How many are of the view that I should be the party leader of ODM and that I am capable?" Orengo asked the crowd amid applause.

"We will not allow Raila’s party to be killed and auctioned, we are going to make it strong because Linda Mwananchi is now one of the largest movements in the country and it must produce a presidential candidate under ODM party."

Orengo hit out at their rivals, saying they were operating under Ruto.

"We told those in ODM that Ruto will not respect ODM. He called them recently in State House, hoping he would cede to their zoning demands; instead, he refused and continued with his disrespect by allowing UDA leaders in Nyanza to control the region by holding UDA grassroots elections," said Orengo.

Orengo urged Nyanza and Western to remain one people and refused a scheme by Ruto and a few leaders to put the two communities at loggerheads while urging their supporters to come out in large numbers and attend the Kisumu rally.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino threw his weight behind Orengo as ODM party leader, vowing to ensure Ruto is defeated in 2027 for failing to lead the country in the wrong direction.

"We are behind our able party leader Orengo, an established and polished leader and elder who has shown us the young ones direction," said Babu.

He added, "Ruto has killed the education sector, especially higher education. Our universities are collapsing because of capitation delay, the health sector is on its knees, teachers are crying of failed SHA and Kenyans are suffering because they are unable to afford medical services, besides lack of jobs for our youths, and that is why Ruto must go home."

Babu maintained that Linda Mwananchi will go on with the planned Kisumu rally urging youth to come out in large numbers and refused to be used by politicians as goons and create rift tension between the two communities.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi said Ruto has failed the country and none of his promises to uplift the poor has been fulfilled.

"Ruto promised to uplift the poor, young people and women from the bottom to up but instead he has done the opposite. The economy is doing badly because of his bad and poor policies, and this is why we want to make Ruto a one-term president,"said Amisi.

He added, "Linda Mwananchi is the one who is going to liberate Kenya and continue with the late Raila’s legacy of liberating Kenyans. We cannot follow Oburu Odinga’s decision to support Ruto, a person who betrayed Raila and stole his victory."

Amisi vowed to go on with the Kisumu rally despite threats and intimidation.

"There are some people who tried to kill our Senator Osotsi in Kisumu but we are ready for tomorrow's (today) rally and we want to tell the youth to come out in large numbers and attend the rally with or without threats," said Amisi.