NAIROBI, Kenya, November 17, 2025— Internal tensions are boiling within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), with a faction reportedly pushing for a change in the party’s top leadership. However, ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga has firmly rejected any prospects of a leadership shake-up.
Speaking in Nairobi, Wanga told members that ODM “will not disintegrate” following the death of its longtime leader, Raila Odinga.
She said the party’s strong foundation gives it resilience beyond the loss of its figurehead.
Wanga further emphasized unity, calling on party members to “move forward as a team” ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to her, the legacy of Odinga continues to guide ODM: “If Raila says left, we will go left; if he says right, we shall all go right,” she said.
Amid the ODM@20 celebrations, however, some party delegates from Western Kenya raised serious grievances. Delegates from counties including Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, and Busia accused ODM’s national leadership of favouritism, nominating “wealthier candidates” over grassroots loyalists, and sidelining qualified members in favour of those who can pay large sums.
These criticisms come amid reports of ideological rifts over the party’s relationship with the ruling coalition. Wanga has defended ODM’s current posture in government, saying it would be self-contradictory to strongly oppose a government in which some of its own members serve.
She however, reiterated that there is no formal merger between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza coalition, noting that the status quo will prevail until 2027 General election.
At the same time, Wanga revealed that Raila Odinga’s last public wish was for ODM to remain part of the broad-based government. “He made a conscious decision to join the broad-based government … As a people and as a party, that is where we will stand,” she said.
ODM appears to be responding to internal dissent preemptively. Wanga calling for cohesion and discouraged any public airing of divisions.
Observers say the coming months will be critical for ODM, as the party consolidates post-Odinga and shapes its 2027 strategy. The question remains whether Wanga and other top leaders can balance the legacy of the late Raila with growing demands for internal reforms.
In the recent concluded Mombasa ODM@20 lelebrations at the Mama Ngina Water Front in Mombasa over the weekend, a section of ODM leaders led by Raila’s daughter Winnie Odinga, Siaya Senator James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino among other leaders depicted dissent, opposing the current ODM leadership. However, some of the party leaders among them Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho urged those who want to leave the party to do so.
Meanwhile, the current party leader Oburu Oginga says the matter will be solved internally.
