Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has successfully mediated a truce within the party, quelling internal dissent and publicly reaffirming support for Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, despite recent calls for his resignation. This follows Sifuna’s controversial declaration that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Raila and President William Ruto was “dead.”
The Spark of Rebellion:
- Sifuna ignited a firestorm within ODM last week by publicly stating the MoU with President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance was defunct.
- This declaration prompted significant backlash, with a section of leaders demanding Sifuna’s resignation.
- Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, Raila Odinga’s brother, escalated tensions over the weekend (July 27), explicitly stating plans were afoot to “chase Sifuna out of the ODM party leadership.” Speaking in Homa Bay, Oburu accused Sifuna of constant opposition to the “broad-based government” approach and urged him to leave ODM if unwilling to support the party’s position.
Raila’s Intervention and Party Unity:
- Facing a potential split, Raila Odinga swiftly convened a critical meeting of the ODM Central Management Committee (CMC) on Tuesday, July 29.
- The meeting, chaired by Raila, focused intensely on the internal conflict and the party’s stance regarding cooperation with the Ruto administration.
- Crucially, the CMC rallied behind Sifuna, rejecting calls for his ouster. In a statement read by Sifuna himself after the meeting, the committee emphasized “an unbreakable unity of purpose” had been forged. The statement declared: “while the members arrived here with different viewpoints… the committee brokered an unbreakable unity of purpose in the party and single-minded focus on ensuring that ODM continues to be loyal servant of the people.”
- The committee explicitly endorsed Raila’s strategy of cooperation: “the party supports the position of party leader Raila Odinga to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration to stabilise the country and create an enabling environment for Kenyans to address their concerns through democratic and constitutional means.”
Reviving the MoU and Key Demands:
- Contrary to Sifuna’s earlier declaration, the ODM leadership did not abandon the MoU framework. Instead, the CMC moved to resuscitate its implementation.
- A key resolution was the formation of a dedicated ODM technical team. This team will collaborate with counterparts from Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to urgently drive forward the 10-point agenda outlined in the original MoU. The party stated: “The committee identified the absence of such a technical committee… as the missing link in the implementation of the document.”
- The party listed critical issues demanding immediate attention from the Kenya Kwanza government:
- Full implementation of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.
- Promotion and protection of youth livelihoods.
- Guaranteeing the right to peaceful assembly and protest.
- Upholding the rule of law and constitutionalism.
- Combating corruption and wastage of public resources.
Resolution and Path Forward:
The CMC meeting effectively quashed the internal rebellion against Sifuna and solidified the party’s official stance behind Raila Odinga’s decision to engage with President Ruto’s administration. While acknowledging internal disagreements over the “broad-based government” approach, the leadership closed ranks, prioritizing party unity and the pursuit of its national agenda through the established MoU framework and direct engagement with the government. The ball is now in the court of the Kenya Kwanza administration to address ODM’s specific demands as the technical teams prepare to engage.
