ODM delagates in Nairobi have backed Eala MP Winnie Odinga as Dr Oburu Oginga's deputy in the party.
The proposal to have EALA MP Winnie Odinga deputise her uncle Oburu Oginga in ODM has triggered fresh division, with critics describing it as a ‘bad idea’ that will reduce the outfit into a family affair.
But those in support of the suggestion say having her as ODM co-deputy party leader would inject fresh energy and add youthful faces to the top leadership of the party.
They also say that Winnie should be judged on her competence for the position, and not on the basis of her lineage.
Critics, however, insist that optics created by having three Odingas at the party’s top leadership would be damaging for the party’s national image built over 20 years. They say it would also send a wrong signal that the party’s leadership is a family inheritance.
They insist that for ODM to succeed post-Raila Odinga, it has to grow beyond the family, with Winnie or Dr Oginga having no automatic right to steer the outfit.
Describing ODM as a national outfit, critics of the suggestion say the party has to represent the face of the country by picking national officials from across the country.
In the event the proposal is endorsed during the March 27 National Delegates Convention (NDC), ODM will have Dr Oginga as Party Leader, Winnie as Deputy Party Leader and Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga as Deputy Organising Secretary.
Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga.
The three would sit in the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), a top decision-making organ of the party, while Oginga and Winnie would double up as members of the party’s Central Management Committee.
Having Winnie in the party’s top leadership also means that Siaya County would have at least four national officials. Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo also sits in the party’s NEC as Vice Chairperson.
The proposal also means expanding the national slots by having four co-deputy party leaders. Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, his Kisii counterpart Simba Arati and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi currently serve as co-deputy party leaders.
The late Raila Odinga expanded the slots to take care of regional interests following a standoff in replacing his former deputies Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya when they joined the Cabinet.
Some of the ODM members who spoke with Nation expressed their opposition over the idea but were cautious to be quoted over fears of antagonising the Odinga family.
“ODM has well-defined procedures and organs responsible for making such decisions. People should appreciate that ODM was not founded on small thoughts. It is a national party, and bringing it down with such suggestions is not a good thing,” said a NEC member, who spoke off the record.
Some, including members of the Linda Mwananchi faction, said the proposal could be part of a wide scheme to weaken the rival camp. Winnie has, for a long time, identified with the ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna-led camp.
Her appearance in a meeting convened by ODM Nairobi branch chairman and Makadara MP George Aladwa signalled her political shift.
Political patronage
Mr Osotsi views the decision to propose her for the slot as part of the scheme to divide and weaken Linda Mwananchi, which is opposed to the decision to back President William Ruto’s second term in office.
“I think Winnie Odinga can easily win a top seat in the ODM party without political patronage because she is acceptable. As Linda Mwananchi, we are very clear that we shall not participate in the Linda ground NDC because it is illegal and undemocratic.”
“The architect of that NDC wants to use Winnie to justify their illegal and uncompetitive acts, which is predesigned to auction the party to President William Ruto. She should smell a rat in all these evil designs.”
Mr Aladwa, in an interview with Nation, did not hide his excitement for successfully pulling Winnie from the Linda Mwananchi camp. He described the move as a major win in uniting ODM ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He dismissed those questioning the proposal to have Winnie take up a new role in the party. Mr Aladwa said it is the Nairobi branch chairmen who nudged Winnie to replace her father as the Nairobi delegate and to go for the deputy party leader position.
ODM delegates during a meeting at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) in Upper Hill, Nairobi, on March 17, 2026.
“Winnie is her own person. You cannot block her from running for a party position because of Oburu. We want more youth in the party. I can tell you that the idea did not come from Winnie but from party officials from Nairobi,” said Mr Aladwa.
Mr Aladwa said that they have been holding meetings with ODM leaders in Nairobi for the last few months, discussing how to ensure that the county has a representative in the ODM leadership table.
“Almost every region has a representative in the party, and since Raila left us, we no longer have a representative. We want Winnie Odinga to sit at the top table. This proposal was made last year, and we are ready to submit it to the NDC,” said Mr Aladwa.
Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo also defended the proposal, describing it as a renaissance for the party, which he says has older people than youth. He says it is only through the inclusion of youthful leaders that the party can be rejuvenated.
Eala MP Winnie Odinga (center) during the ODM Nairobi County delegates and officials meeting at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Upper Hill, Nairobi, on March 17, 2026.
“It shows vibrancy for a party that could end up moribund for having old people at the top. We should judge the Odingas based on their competence, other than their lineage,” said Mr Odhiambo.
In her speech during Tuesday’s meeting held at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF), Winnie said, “This party, our home, the home that my father built, how can I leave this home? To go where? I will remain here in ODM.”
According to her, Nairobi County has more voters who have been standing with the party for years, hence, need to be represented in the party's decision-making organs.
“Nairobi will have its say, and on March 27, we will have our day. It is time for ODM. When it comes to party positions, those who put their lives on the line should be the first people to be considered for party positions. We will go there, Nairobi must have a seat at the table,” she said.
But Kileleshwa MP Robert Alai described her remarks as those which perpetuates perception of family inheritance.
The Jaramogi family after a meeting held at Kang'o Ka Jaramogi on February 1, 2025. Dr Oburu Oginga is sandwiched by niece Winnie Odinga and sister Ruth.
“There is a claim that ODM is a family inheritance. No family inheritance is funded by taxpayers. So claiming that “my father built” is insulting to all those who sacrificed for the party to stand.
“Baba Raila played his part, but he wasn’t the sole builder. Even taxpayers contributed to the building of the same by funding the party,” said Mr Alai.
Kilimani MCA and Dagoretti North aspirant Moses Ogeto said that the EALA MP will breathe new life into the ODM party in Nairobi, enabling them to regain popularity across all 17 constituencies.
“We will go out of our way to make sure that this party remains strong. This place is where the journey always starts for Nairobi politics,” Mr Ogeto said.
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