OPINION: ODM Woes Ahead Of Next Year's General Election

By Tonny Ochere, B.Ed, Kenyatta University

Is ODM on its deathbed? What is currently being witnessed in the ‘once largest party’ in the whole country juxtaposes what had been built by its founding members.

In a recent interview, where the party’s secretary general, Edwin Sifuna, appeared, his views, to some, reflect the party’s position that had been there before it was incorporated into the broad-based government under President William Ruto.

According to Sifuna, the statements that the majority of the party officials and other leaders who had been close to the deceased party leader keep on making, are just mechanisms to keep them afloat on the political landscape, and they can’t reflect what the party has always been known for.

Sifuna strongly condemned the ongoing nationwide campaigns dubbed as ‘LindaGround’, as this is, to his opinion, an orchestration being pushed forward by self-seeking political class who are in the government.

Deepening Factional Divisions

It is in the public domain that there are wrangles in the party’s leadership structure.

For instance, a faction led by the party leader, the party’s chairperson, two deputy party leaders and the donated ‘experts’ to Ruto’s administration, does the contrary.

Despite the government undertaking punitive measures in addressing citizens’ pleas, over taxation, failing to obey court orders amongst others, this faction does not and can’t act since they’re in government, enjoying the fruits of Raila’s ‘hard work’.

However, the other faction led by the other deputy party leader, Hon. Osotsi, in conjunction with leaders like Babu Owino, Caleb Amisi, Kibagendi, Sifuna, also does air their views as regards to the punitive things that the Ruto administration is undertaking.

Consequently, this has made them to be viewed as dissidents who should be subjected to disciplinary actions and that they risk losing the positions they hold in the party.

Ideological differences can’t be a factor to subject these people to be scrutinized on their political stands.

Also Read: ODM Distances Itself from Oketch Salah

Conflicting Signals from the Top

Just the other day, the party leader, Dr. Oburu Oginga, issued a communiqué to counter all Sifuna’s views as per the interview that he had on Citizen TV.

Ironically, as the party’s secretary general, he is the party’s mouthpiece.

Oburu should stand firm as a party leader who is not being coaxed into making irrational decisions that undermine the secretary general’s office.

Similarly, there have been several grassroots engagements that Raila’s ‘adopted son’, Oketch Salah, has been initiating all over.

What position does he hold in ODM? Under whose authority is he working? Where does he get the funding from, since Sifuna, too, claimed while being interviewed, that the party has never transacted any amount to aid such an initiative, as he is one of the signatories to ODM bank accounts? Is this a scheme to finish ODM from within?

Also Read: ODM Heavyweight Hits Back at Oburu After Surrendering DP Slot Before Ruto Talk

Uncertainty as the Election Nears

Additionally, Oketch, on Friday, convened a meeting dubbed as comrades in ODM caucus, in KICC, where different university students attended, which later turned to be chaotic since most the things they had been promised were not fulfilled.

The party chairperson, Gladys Wanga, came out strongly and also issued another communique to distance ODM from Oketch Salah’s theatrics.

What does ODM as a party currently stand for, considering these differences that arise from its leadership organs?

All eyes are on ODM’s next move as the expiring date that was established for the 10-point agenda implementation is almost in the offing.

Supporters are wiser, as these leaders now pose as dealers instead of giving a unanimous direction to their supporters on the ground as the country draws near to the next year’s general election.

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