Wamuzi News Ke
It is a very dramatic event. It could be a turning point in the political landscape of the country before the 2027 general elections. Winnie Odinga, a prominent member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has come out and clearly stated that the party should not only break from tentative alignment but also unambiguously field its own presidential candidate, thus rejecting any doubt about its participation in the next national race.
During a political event that has quickly become the center of national discourse, Odinga—daughter of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga—made a call directly to the party that it should claim its independence and take the lead in opposing the re-election of President William Ruto.
Her comments come at a time when the speculation around ODM’s political alliance with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is at its peak, and internal debate over the party’s future direction is going on.
Winnie Odinga was very to the point when she said that the Democrats should not take half measures. She also mentioned how the grassroots of the party expect a stance that is not only bold but also unmistakable in the run-up to 2027. Thus, she described a stance that would place the ODM party’s identity and the ability to win elections at the forefront.
Furthermore, Odinga said that the party’s mission to take power and influence national policy in such a way that it is responsive to the concerns of its supporters is at the heart of the candidate-raising process. Her move has directly heightened the internal strife within the party as well as among the party’s seniors in general, where a few of them are the ones who have been moderate in their stand of not completely cutting off the cooperative ties with President Ruto’s administration.
The dispute regarding whether ODM should run for the presidency without the ruling coalition or keep on engaging with them for a considerable time has seen tensions grow for several months, but the words of Odinga are the most definitive public statement so far that the ruling party must recover its lost and aggressive political identity.
Analysts believe that the position of Odinga puts the leaders of the ODM party under the pressure that has been exercised for a while, and now it is the turn of the new party chief, Oburu Oginga, who has been trying to balance the unity with the strategic positions before the critically important 2027 elections.
Her insistence on an outright presidential bid is a clear indication of the impatience that is felt by a certain segment of the party who think that the party is going to lose its relevance if it continues to be tied with cross-party arrangements that alienate its core support base. The discussion around ODM’s presidential strategy has been going on for quite a while.
ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has already spoken about the party’s plans for the 2027 election and has stated that there will be no such candidate coming from the government anyway. But Odinga’s words in public have really intensified the debate, and they have come at a time when political timelines are getting shorter and internal divisions are becoming more visible.
Analysts have pointed out that Odinga’s comments show the younger generation’s demand for change in the policy of the party and that this is giving the younger leaders and new voices who argue for a bolder break from past compromises and for the clearer articulation of the policy priorities different from those of Kenya Kwanza more support.
Her call is in tune with the party’s supporters who are skeptical about the perceived sacrifices that come with cooperation and are ready for a revitalized opposition role instead. Most of the critics, however, point out that the radical promotion of an independent presidential candidate would be a factor that amplifies the party’s internal disunity and strains the party’s organizational cohesion, which is already a very divided time for the national politics.
They warn that ODM could lose its chance to win elections if it does not manage its strategy and timing very carefully, as this could still be a factor for its downfall, less than the others. With the 2027 voting period cycle coming in very fast, Odinga’s watching the situation is going to push the discussion not only within ODM but also in the whole of Kenya’s political arena to the maximum.
The call for a solo presidential election raises the stakes for the party leaders who are to seek the middle ground for the party’s future amidst a tumultuous and erratic political climate.
