Kibra MP aspirant and musician Octopizzo has issued a sharp critique of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), warning that the party is at risk of internal decay following a statement by ODM national chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
Wanga recently clarified that any activities conducted by businessman Oketch Salah do not represent ODM.
In a statement, she stressed that “all official ODM activities, programs, and engagements are channeled through the Party Secretariat and are undertaken with the approval and guidance of the Party leadership, headed by Dr. Oburu Odinga.”
She advised grassroots leaders and supporters not to organize events or make statements in the party’s name without prior authorization.
Reacting on social media, Octopizzo framed the situation as symptomatic of a deeper problem within ODM.
“There is something tragic about watching a movement lose its moral compass not because of external enemies, but because of internal appetites,” he wrote.
“When deception becomes strategy and handouts become ideology, the web tightens quietly, thread by thread until even its architects cannot move freely within it.”
The Kibra aspirant criticized what he described as the party’s shift from principle-driven leadership to transactional politics. He noted that small compromises, made for convenience, can evolve into a culture where loyalty is no longer to vision or people, but to personal gain.
“Conviction is replaced by calculation. And in that shift, confusion thrives. Not the confusion of complexity but the confusion of conscience,” Octopizzo said.
He warned that the real threat to ODM is not opposition from other parties, but the gradual erosion of its foundational values. “A party is not destroyed in a single dramatic moment. It erodes. First through whispered deals.
Then through selective silence. Then through leaders who speak loudly of reform while privately negotiating survival. The web grows thicker. Trust thins,” he added.
Octopizzo concluded with a historical reminder, urging party leaders to prioritize purpose over immediate gains.
“The real danger is decay from within when short-term handouts outweigh long-term purpose, when transactional politics replaces transformational leadership. In chasing crumbs of comfort, the foundation itself begins to crack. And history is unforgiving to movements that forget why they were formed.”
The remarks by Octopizzo, a known figure in Kenya’s music and political scene, are likely to reignite debate within ODM over internal discipline, loyalty, and the role of business figures in political activities.
Analysts note that such interventions by high-profile aspirants could influence public perception ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly in urban constituencies like Kibra where Octopizzo commands significant support.
ODM has maintained its commitment to structured engagement, emphasizing that all party matters must align with the guidance of Dr. Oburu Odinga and the Party Secretariat.
Yet Octopizzo’s comments highlight ongoing tensions about ideology, loyalty, and governance within Kenya’s long-standing political movement.