The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has expressed concerns over recent remarks made by members of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, which appear to question ODM’s and its leader Raila Odinga’s commitment to their roles as key opposition figures.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, ODM leadership highlighted that these comments are particularly troubling as they seem to target Raila Odinga, the Party Leader of ODM and a central figure in the Azimio Coalition.
The criticism is primarily directed at four former senior ODM officials—Ali Hassan Joho, Wycliffe Oparanya, John Mbadi, and James Opiyo Wandayi—who have taken up positions in Kenya’s Kwanza administration. According to ODM, these individuals joined the government in their personal capacities and not as representatives of ODM, responding to a national emergency and at the president’s request.
ODM emphasized that there is no formal agreement between the party and Kenya Kwanza that would suggest a partnership in governance. The party reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to its role as a minority party, focused on holding the government accountable, ensuring transparency, and advocating for efficient service delivery to Kenyans.
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The statement also made it clear that ODM will not tolerate any attempts by coalition partners to undermine its leadership or use Raila Odinga as a scapegoat for internal issues within the Azimio coalition.
According to the statement issued by National Chairman Gladys Wanga, ODM has a long history of sacrifice in its opposition to Kenya Kwanza policies, with the party consistently facing violence and repression during protests. ODM commended the four former officials for their integrity in resigning from their party positions before joining the government, contrasting this with what it described as questionable tactics by some Azimio partners.
This statement follows calls from affiliate parties within the Azimio coalition for ODM’s removal from the pact, citing its alleged alignment with President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition. Three parties—PNU, Jubilee, and DAP-K—have revealed that Azimio chair, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, has convened a meeting to discuss the coalition’s future. They seek to explore options that would better enable the coalition to oversee and hold the Kenya Kwanza administration accountable.
Speaking during a church service in Kirinyaga on Sunday, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka noted that while it is a democratic right for members to align with the opposition or government, President William Ruto is now leading an unconstitutional government following the recent Gen Z protests. Kalonzo criticized the broad-based government, claiming it is sustained by the blood of youths who died while advocating for better governance.
