Siaya County Senator and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Dr. Oburu Odinga has stepped in to calm rising tensions within the opposition outfit, borrowing heavily from the political playbook of his late brother, Raila Odinga.
His intervention appears to have defused a simmering internal standoff that had threatened to fracture the once formidable party.
For months, ODM has been rocked by a public war of words between Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, with the exchanges exposing deep divisions over the party’s direction in the post-Raila era.
The disagreements had fueled speculation that ODM was headed for an irreversible split, especially at a time when Kenya’s opposition is struggling to find its footing.
However, during a crucial meeting held on January 7, 2026, at Chungwa House, Dr. Oburu Odinga met Senator Sifuna in what insiders described as an intensive and candid discussion aimed at restoring unity.
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Speaking after the meeting, Oburu struck a conciliatory tone reminiscent of Raila Odinga’s long-held philosophy of inclusivity and internal democracy.
In a statement captured in an image shared by Kenyans.co.ke, Oburu Odinga affirmed his confidence in Sifuna, saying: “I met with my friend, Senator Edwin Sifuna, the Secretary General of the ODM Party.
He remains a sober and principled voice, embodying the democratic ideals we believe in as a party. We are one. We are united as the ODM Party.”
He further emphasized that ODM’s foundation is built on freedom of expression and defending the people, adding that differences of opinion should never be mistaken for division. According to Oburu, Sifuna speaks the official position of the party and should not be blocked from airing his views.
The statement has been widely interpreted as a clear signal that the ODM leadership stands firmly behind its Secretary General.
By choosing dialogue over discipline, Oburu Odinga appears to have revived Raila Odinga’s trademark approach—managing internal dissent through consultation rather than confrontation—offering ODM a lifeline at a critical moment in its history.
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