Senior Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders, including Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and party leader Oburu Odinga, have suffered a major political setback after hopes of a structured political arrangement with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) were thrown into uncertainty.
ODM insiders say the party had been quietly banking on a zoning or power-sharing framework with UDA as part of a broader realignment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
However, those expectations have been shaken after President Ruto’s camp intensified its own preparations for 2027 without firm commitments to ODM, leaving the Orange party in political limbo.
The unfolding situation has exposed deep cracks within ODM, with legal and political hurdles now threatening to derail any potential deal with the ruling party.
Legal experts have warned that ODM remains formally bound to the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition and cannot lawfully negotiate or enter a new alliance with UDA without first exiting the coalition through laid-down legal procedures.
This legal trap has compounded internal divisions within ODM. A pro-government faction, believed to favour accommodation with State House, is pushing for engagement with Ruto’s administration, while hardliners insist the party must retain its opposition identity within Azimio.
The rift has sparked what insiders describe as a brutal internal war, with senior leaders openly clashing over the party’s future direction.
The dilemma is further complicated by former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ongoing reorganisation of Azimio, a move that could reshape the opposition landscape.
ODM risks losing its dominance in opposition politics by flirting with UDA while Azimio is being reconstituted, without securing guaranteed influence in government.
Figures such as Oburu Odinga and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna now find themselves at the centre of a high-stakes debate over legality, relevance, and political survival.
As 2027 approaches, ODM faces a critical choice: remain firmly in opposition or navigate a risky path toward power that could fracture the party beyond repair.
By Newshub