In a remarkable intensification of internal Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) conflicts, the elders and members of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s clan have openly requested Winnie Odinga and Raila Odinga Junior to stop what they consider the dividing political criticisms directed at Senator Oburu Oginga, the leader of the party, and have even cautioned that such a dispute might split both family and party union in the run-up to the 2027 general elections.
The unusual intervention took place at a clan meeting in Kisumu, where the elders took their criticism of the children’s father, Amarath, and the party’s participation through Oburu in Western Kenya a step further, calling the children’s political rally a disrespectful and harmful move to the ODM unity.
A nephew of Jaramogi, William Ojonyo, insisted that family quarrels be settled inside the family and suggested talking instead of ‘public confrontations’ that might kill a political legacy after decades of being established.
“The quarrel between Winnie and Raila Junior must not be repeated. We urge all children and grandchildren to present the firstborn son of Jaramogi with respect,” Ojonyo said, indicating that there is a great fear of generational conflicts that could lead to ODM’s loosening of grip over the political landscape and even the party.
The public reprimand follows a weekend filled with intense political drama wherein Winnie Odinga and Raila Junior were doing a separate rally at Kamukunji Grounds, which was met with strong criticism from Oburu’s camp. Winnie has openly accused ODM leadership of being composed of conservative elements and of neglecting the reformist voices.
Elders have called for reconciliation, but still some family members have tried to reduce the rift. Isaac Omondi, Oburu’s brother, affirmed that the Odinga family is still one and undivided notwithstanding the media-attributed tales of quarrel among them.
Loyalty to clans is seen as a complicating factor in the already heated ODM leadership battle by political analysts, where not only the old and young are divided but also the party’s direction has no clear consensus while public participation is growing on the side of the youth who are with Winnie and Raila Junior.
Leave a Reply