The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing renewed internal tensions after Suba South MP Caroli Omondi publicly cautioned party members against invoking the late Raila Odinga to justify shifting the party’s 2027 political direction.
Speaking on JKLive, Omondi criticized what he termed as opportunistic narratives emerging within the party months after Odinga’s death on October 15, 2025.
“This idea that Raila told me, or Raila came to me in a dream… I have said that at a meeting where he was present, Raila said nobody should talk about two-term. He said no two-term, only Mbadi and Wandayi should say two-term,” Omondi stated.
Alliance Concerns
Omondi, who also serves as Secretary-General of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, accused some ODM leaders of drifting away from Raila’s long-standing multi-ethnic coalition strategy in favor of warmer ties with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
He questioned why ODM would move away from its traditional alliance bases, particularly among Kamba and Luhya communities, arguing that such a shift would weaken the party’s electoral prospects.
According to Omondi, abandoning these partnerships could significantly affect ODM’s performance in key urban strongholds such as Nairobi and Mombasa.
He warned that moving closer to UDA without maintaining traditional alliances might cost the party crucial parliamentary seats in 2027.
Growing Internal Debate
The remarks highlight deeper internal debates within ODM over strategy, leadership direction, and coalition building ahead of the next General Election.
As political alignments continue to evolve, Omondi’s comments reflect the broader contest over the future identity and alliances of the opposition party.
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