A generational rift is widening inside the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as a group of youthful leaders openly oppose cooperation with President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The faction includes Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi, and Vihiga Senator Geoffrey Osotsi.
The leaders have rejected the broad-based government arrangement and any pre-coalition agreements, arguing that such deals weaken the opposition’s watchdog role.
Positioning themselves as heirs to the defiant “Young Turks” of the 1990s, the lawmakers say the opposition must return to principled resistance.
They have invoked the era when detention, exile, and political persecution marked the struggle for multiparty democracy, framing today’s political moment as a test of courage and ideological clarity.
The stance has drawn support from Siaya Governor James Orengo, a veteran of Kenya’s pro-democracy movement, lending historical weight to the rebellion.
His backing suggests the dispute reflects deeper ideological divisions rather than a simple generational contest.
The unfolding dispute highlights a deeper ideological fault line: whether cooperation with the ruling administration can deliver stability and development, or whether it risks weakening oversight and blurring political accountability.
As the debate intensifies, ODM faces a defining moment that could reshape its identity and influence in Kenya’s evolving political order.