Former chair of Lake Victoria Basin Board Odoyo Owidi has raised concerns about the party’s cohesion, saying several senior figures had distanced themselves from ODM prior to the death of its long-serving leader, Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Spice FM on Tuesday, November 18, Owidi named Sifuna, Arati, Hamisi, and Osotsi as leaders who allegedly left the party months before Odinga passed away on October 15.
Owidi described Nyanza County as central to ODM’s survival, noting that resistance to a broad-based political arrangement in Siaya County highlights emerging divisions within the party.
“ODM without Nyanza is dead,” he said, adding that even before Raila’s death, the party faced significant internal challenges.
ODM has long been a dominant force in Kenya’s political landscape, particularly in Nyanza, where Raila Odinga’s influence secured consistent electoral victories.
The emergence of internal disagreements over leadership and alliances comes at a sensitive moment as Kenya prepares for upcoming elections.
Odoyo suggested that most other counties were more receptive to broad-based arrangements, implying that Siaya’s resistance could signal friction in party decision-making.
Party insiders have previously acknowledged the need to address leadership succession and strategy following Odinga’s passing, but there has been no public confirmation regarding claims of leaders leaving before the veteran politician’s death.
ODM’s constitution allows for internal consultations to determine leadership and electoral approaches, but unresolved divisions may affect the party’s ability to present a united front.
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