Raila moves to quell ODM turmoil with grassroots mobilisation
Western
By
Benard Lusigi
| Jul 25, 2025
Alarmed by the growing criticisms and internal strife that are threatening the strength of the ODM party, ODM leader Raila Odinga will today kickoff a countrywide consultations with grassroots leaders in a bid to quell growing dissent and popularise the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Raila's move comes against the backdrop of rising opposition and internal rifts within the Orange party, especially over his working relationship with President William Ruto of the UDA Party.
However, on Friday, Raila is expected to attend the Kakamega County ODM Delegates Conference at the Golf Hotel, convened by Kakamega County ODM Chairman Fernandes Barasa, who also doubles as the governor.
According to the party, Odinga is expected to meet the newly elected grassroots officials in a bid to rejuvenate the party ahead of the 2027 polls.
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"This is the first of a series of countrywide engagements the party leader has planned to familiarise himself with the newly elected grassroots officials ahead of the county elections. The purpose of the visits is to rejuvenate the party in preparations for the 2027 General Election," reads a statement by the party.
The statement further reads, "The meeting has been convened by the Kakamega County coordinating committee led by Chairman Barasa, who is also the Governor of Kakamega, together with Deputy Party Leader and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi. One thousand delegates drawn from all the twelve branches, Malava, Ikolomani, Navakholo, Matungu, Lurambi, Likuyani, Lugari, Malava, Khwisero, Shinyalu, Mumias East and Mumias West are expected to attend."
Governor Barasa, who confirmed Raila's Friday meeting, told The Standard that the meeting is to strengthen the party and in preparation for the national celebration of 20 years of ODM's existence.
"This is one of the precursor delegates' meetings as we prepare for the National Celebration of 20 years of ODM greatness, bigger, better and stronger. But importantly, it is to strengthen the party at the grassroots level, and ODM is the most preferred party in Kakamega County and the Western region at large," said Barasa.
Barasa said the county is ready for the county elections at any given time.
As the party continues to experience internal rift among various leaders over the Ruto-Raila pact, Barasa said he expects the government to implement the 10-point agenda to the fullest.
"On the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), my take is to see full implementation of the 10-point agenda items. As a democratic party, we encourage divergent views from its members," said Barasa.
Early this week, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and ODM Secretary General contradicted Raila’s position to support Ruto until 2027, which he termed “unfortunate” and a cause of constant confusion within the opposition outfit.
He painted his resistance, driven by other politicians within ODM, as aimed at “rescuing” the party from sinking with Ruto, who Sifuna believes will lose the next election.
“If a decision is taken to support President William Ruto for 2027, that is something I cannot personally abide by, and I am sure everybody would respect that,” said Sifuna, adding that he would resign as secretary general if his party were to back Ruto.
“But since that decision has not been made, I am holding out that there is still time for us to correct course.”
However, on Sunday last week, during an interview with one of the local TV stations, Raila said he is part of the broad-based government, a position he said would not change until 2027.
“We did not say we are going to work with UDA beyond 2027. Those are issues we will discuss at the appropriate time, and the decision will be made by party members,” said Raila.