East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) representative Winnie Odinga has addressed apprehensions regarding the prospects of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) following the recent demise of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Convening with journalists on Saturday, December 13, 2025, in Gatanga, Murang’a County, Ms. Odinga refuted allegations that the ODM was fractured into dissenting factions.
Ms. Odinga asserted unequivocally that the Orange Democratic Movement remained cohesively united and was firmly rooted in the principles enshrined within the party’s foundational document.
“The party is robust. We are unified. While we may have encountered divergent viewpoints on certain matters, the paramount aspect remains our collaborative engagement, coming together, and being afforded the latitude to cultivate an organization that genuinely represents the entirety of this nation,” Ms. Odinga stated.
Affiliation with Oburu
Additionally, the EALA member clarified her relationship with the current ODM party leader, Oburu Oginga. The daughter of the late Mr. Odinga maintained her close bond with Mr. Oginga, regarding him as the patriarch of her family.
Ms. Odinga further elaborated that she would not align herself with any group opposing Mr. Oginga.
“I am unaware of the genesis of these supposed factions. The party leader is my uncle, and he is the sole paternal figure I have remaining. There will never be a day when I participate in a dissenting bloc without his involvement. He is the head of my family, and I consistently maintain a close connection with him,” she reiterated.
These remarks were made subsequent to a prior suggestion by Ms. Odinga during the ODM’s 20th-anniversary commemorations in Mombasa, where she advocated for the convocation of a National Delegates Meeting (NDC) to determine the party’s stance on its alliance with President William Ruto’s administration.
Nevertheless, Mr. Oginga respectfully disagreed with Ms. Odinga, rejecting her proposition.
Mr. Oginga’s previous response to her suggestion was, “You have heard my daughter Winnie state that Raila was present, and now we should seek another to assist in advancing this broad-based government. I will address this matter with her in a private, familial setting.”
Internal Dissent within ODM
Despite these divergences, Ms. Odinga embraced the presence of varied perspectives within the ODM, asserting that such internal discourse contributes to a party’s enduring strength. Conversely, she contended that members who opt to defect from the organization would be seen as renouncing the principles espoused by Mr. Odinga.
“However, the party is in sound condition. For an organization with a membership exceeding 8 million registered individuals, it is natural to encounter disagreements. This, however, should not be misconstrued as an indication of the ODM’s imminent collapse. ‘Baba’ (a revered term for Raila Odinga) instructed us that no one is truly departing. The only individuals who will leave are those who find fault with his foundational teachings,” she concluded.
