Tension is brewing within the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) after a heated exchange erupted between Kileleshwa Ward MCA Robert Alai and Kisumu County Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga, the sister of the late party leader Raila Amollo Odinga.
The confrontation has exposed widening cracks over the future direction of the party following Raila’s passing.
The dispute began after Ruth Odinga urged ODM members to “stop shouting about two terms” and instead focus on rebuilding and strengthening the party’s internal structures.
Speaking during a grassroots meeting in Kisumu, she emphasized unity and restructuring, arguing that ODM must regain its national image before engaging in future political negotiations.
However, Alai sharply disagreed with her sentiments, accusing Ruth of attempting to steer the party away from the political path laid down by the late Raila Odinga.
In a strongly worded statement shared online, Alai insisted that ODM must “remain in the government where Raila left them,” adding that abandoning that alignment would betray the sacrifices made by the party’s loyal supporters.
According to Alai, ODM’s position in government ensures continued influence and access to development opportunities for its regions of support. He warned against what he termed as “internal revisionism” aimed at dismantling Raila’s legacy for personal political gain.
On her part, Ruth Odinga maintains that the party’s survival depends on discipline, grassroots empowerment, and visionary leadership. She has called for members to put aside personal ambitions and work together to restore ODM’s credibility ahead of the 2027 general election.
As the public spat intensifies, analysts note that ODM’s internal wrangles could weaken its ability to remain a dominant force in national politics without Raila Odinga’s unifying presence.
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