Odinga Siblings Weigh In on ODM Succession Battle, Rally Behind Youthful Leaders

By : Mweru Mbugua 

The simmering succession battle within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) intensified on Sunday after Winnie Odinga and her brother Raila Odinga Jr publicly entered the fray, warning against attempts to silence dissenting voices within the party

Speaking during separate public engagements in Nairobi’s Kibra constituency, the siblings accused a section of ODM leaders of targeting younger figures, specifically naming Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. They cautioned that such moves threaten the party’s democratic culture and long-standing ideals

In her first major political appearance in Kibra since the death of her father, former ODM leader Raila Odinga, Winnie addressed a charged rally at Kamukunji grounds, affirming her commitment to the party

“We will not leave this party that we fought for,” she said, dismissing claims that some leaders were being pushed out. “We paid the price for this movement when it mattered”

Flanked by her elder brother, Winnie accused unnamed individuals of exploiting the period following her father’s death to advance narrow political interests, warning that ODM could not be reduced to personal or commercial gain

“You cannot copy and paste Baba,” she said. “ODM cannot be sold or hijacked. We asked for time after Baba’s passing, but some people refused to wait”

Raila Odinga Jr echoed her sentiments, stressing that freedom of expression must be protected within the party and rejecting calls to expel members over differing views

“Kila mtu ana uhuru wa kuzungumza,” he said, adding that ODM must remain tolerant of internal debate

Winnie openly aligned herself with the faction associated with Sifuna and Babu Owino, saying the two leaders had her full backing. She also conveyed greetings from their mother, Ida Odinga, to ODM supporters

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The EALA legislator announced plans to raise the matter at the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC), where she intends to challenge what she described as growing sycophancy and misrepresentation of her father’s public positions

“Baba spoke openly to Kenyans. Claims that he left us in government are misleading,” she said. “ODM does not need praise singers”

Earlier in the day, the siblings attended a thanksgiving service at ACK Holy Trinity Church before proceeding to Kibra.

Winnie later revealed plans to embark on nationwide consultative forums to gather views from ODM supporters, signaling a more active role in shaping the party’s future as internal divisions continue to widen