Wamuzi News Ke
Homa Bay Governor and ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga today delivered a scathing rebuke to party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, declaring emphatically that the Orange Democratic Movement has not exited the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with President William Ruto’s so-called broad-based government. Her remarks come amid deepening internal party tension following Sifuna’s public disavowal of ODM’s cooperation with the administration.
Speaking at an economic empowerment event in Kisumu County, Wanga distanced her party from Sifuna’s outspoken criticism, warning him against speaking unilaterally. She underscored that Raila Odinga—the ODM leader—has never directed the party to abandon the MoU or the cooperation framework with the government. “At no point have we withdrawn from the MoU with the broad-based government,” she asserted. “Raila Odinga has never directed us to exit that agreement. So when you speak against the broad-based government, you are not speaking on behalf of ODM.”
Wanga’s declaration punctuates weeks of internal strife. Sifuna has been vocal in distancing ODM from the Kenya Kwanza coalition, asserting that the agreement does not constitute a coalition and that ODM should remain the opposition unless headed by its own flag bearer. He has accused ODM governors and party officials embedded in state structures of diluting the party’s identity.
By contrast, Wanga defended ODM members aligned with government programs, urging party unity and restraint. She emphasized that the broad-based government collaboration is rooted in statutory agreements, aimed at uniting leadership for service delivery—not political betrayal. According to her, ODM members in government roles must be protected from detractors within the party, warning that internal dissent risks undermining the potential benefits flowing to ODM strongholds.
Her remarks coincide with mounting tension in Nyanza, where governors like James Orengo (Siaya) and Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu) have openly challenged Kenya Kwanza. Senator Sifuna’s repeated critiques of the government’s approach to devolution and governance have added to the polarization, triggering calls from ODM-aligned leaders to preserve discipline.
Wanga’s intervention may be the clearest signal yet of internal party fragmentation: one faction advocating pragmatic engagement and development gains, while another pushes for ideological purity and opposition identity. The rift raises serious questions about ODM’s cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections and its ability to negotiate power-sharing arrangements.
As ODM navigates this internal power struggle, Kenya watches closely. The path ahead may shape not just the party’s future, but the broader landscape of coalition politics in the country.
Kenya now faces a defining moment: Will ODM unify behind structured governance collaboration—or splinter along fault lines of ideology and pragmatism?
