Kisumu County Woman Representative Hon. Ruth Odinga, the sister of the late Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga, has sparked fresh controversy within the party following her remarks during the first ODM meeting in Mombasa since Raila’s passing.
Speaking before top party officials and members, Ruth dismissed claims that Raila had directed ODM to remain part of the broad-based government formed earlier this year.
She stated that her late brother’s wish was for ODM to remain a united and independent party, not one absorbed by government alliances.
“Raila never told me to make ODM a broad-based government party. He told me to make it a united ODM,” Ruth asserted, drawing mixed reactions from the audience.
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Her comments appeared to challenge some senior figures within the party who have been vocal in supporting continued collaboration with President William Ruto’s administration.
Ruth also took issue with what she described as attempts to weaken ODM’s identity through political labeling. “People in government should stop calling our by-election candidates ‘broad-based candidates’. ODM remains ODM,” she emphasized.
Her remarks come amid internal divisions within the party, with a faction led by some coastal and Nyanza leaders backing the idea of a broad-based government, while others insist ODM must preserve its independence and Raila’s legacy.
The fiery statement by Ruth Odinga has reignited debate about the party’s future direction following Raila’s death, exposing rifts that ODM leadership had tried to downplay. Political observers say her stance could reshape internal power alignments as ODM seeks to redefine itself in Kenya’s changing political landscape.
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