From left (foreground): Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Uriri MP Mark Nyamita.
A number of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmakers plan to ditch the party and seek re-election on other outfits in 2027.
At the heart of the possible exodus from the 20-year-old party is the divisive broad-based government arrangement between ODM and President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA). The plan by the party to back President Ruto’s re-election has also led to unease.
Other concerns being cited by the MPs are fears of being shortchanged during the party primaries, political realignments, new and attractive regional parties and perceived dwindling of ODM’s influence in strongholds like Gusii and Western.
Leaders perceived to be critical of the broad-based government fear being targeted and denied ODM tickets.
Nairobi County Senator Edwin Sifuna during an interview in his office.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi told the Daily Nation that he would seek re-election on a new party, while ODM Secretary-General and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, MPs Caleb Amisi (Saboti) and Anthony Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South) insist on seeking to defend their seats on other parties should ODM throw its weight behind President Ruto.
Supporters of the broad-based government, including several party honchos, have been rallying ODM bastions to consider President Ruto for a second term.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who is eyeing Nairobi governor seat, and Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, who wants to unseat Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, say they are ready to quit ODM if shortchanged in the primaries.
Mr Omondi said he made the decision because of ODM’s history of bungled nominations and absence of strong party leadership following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Odinga, the founding party leader, died on October 15.
Mr Omondi also cited the party’s attempt to expel him after he visited President Ruto at State House alongside other ODM lawmakers just months after the 2022 elections.
“I have reflected on this issue for long. It is not my intention to seek re-election on an ODM ticket. Which party it is and who I am associating with, we will discuss later,” the Suba South MP said.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi.
“I can only say that it is not one of these parties you know. It will be a new one. They threatened to expel me and I know they will come with zoning rules. Didn’t they just do that in Kasipul?”
Mr Omondi said it was through Odinga’s intervention that he contested on ODM in 2022. He said he had made a decision to run as an independent over the same fears of being rigged out in the primaries.
In 2014, he was made to drop his bid to succeed Senator Otieno Kajwang who had died months earlier. ODM settled on Mr Moses Kajwang instead.
In 2017, ODM issued ticket to its then-national chairperson John Mbadi after a contested nomination. Mr Omondi believes he won but was denied the ticket.
“Do you think the nominations for the November 27 be-elections were credible? People must have choices. Where people will unite is at the presidential vote,” he said.
“For the other positions, people should come in different parties. Because of the mess witnessed in Parliament and blamed on political parties, people must be given options.”
In the Kasipul by-election, the party was accused of mismanaging the nominations, a scenario that saw some of the hopefuls abandon the party.
ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga and other top officials were seen in some quarters as favouring Mr Boyd Were even before the party held nominations for the seat left vacant following the killing of area MP Charles Ong’ondo Were – Boyd’s father.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga (left) addresses ODM supporters after Boyd Were (centre) was declared the winner of the Kasipul parliamentary by-election on Nvemebr 28, 2025.
Mr Omondi also cited the instalment of Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga as the party leader, saying ODM appears to be getting instructions from external forces.
“Senator Oginga said he did not even know there was a process to make him the party leader. What that implies is that the call came from elsewhere,” he said.
“That is worrying as it seems ODM is being controlled from somewhere else. I do not feel the current ODM leadership embraces the ideological and intellectual views upon which we founded the party.”
Exodus from ODM
Mr Amisi said some MPs may be targeted for criticising the broad-based government arrangement. He added that he would have no option but to exit and run on another party if ODM supports President Ruto’s re-election.
Mr Amisi said it would be in the interest of Dr Ruto to see the “rebels” denied ODM tickets.
Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi.
“If ODM continues working with Ruto, I will seek re-election on another party or run as independent,” the Saboti MP said.
“The fact that ODM will be under President Ruto’s control means he may want to fix some of his critics. Tickets will be dished to those supporting the broad-based government.”
Mr Kibagendi said he joined ODM because the party defended human rights and fought for the rule of law and equitable sharing of national resources among other ideals.
He said the party has abandoned its ideology and now supports the Kenya Kwanza administration, “which continues to abuse the rights of Kenyans”.
Kitutu Chache South Member of Parliament Anthony Kibagendi.
He accused the government of coming up with projects designed to enrich a handful of individuals.
“The broad-based government was founded on the 10-point agenda. Unfortunately, none of those issues has been addressed,” the Kitutu Chache MP said.
“I don’t want to be associated with this regime. There is no way I will seek re-election on ODM if it continues to work with a government that does not care about Kenyans.”
According to Mr Onyonka, top party officials should reconsider severing ties with UDA, failure to which there will be an exodus from ODM.
He added that the Kenya Kwanza administration has failed to implement the 10-point agenda – the basis of the rapprochement with ODM.
Kisii County Senator Richard Onyonka.
He said he can still seek re-election on an ODM ticket if it delinks itself from UDA.
“I’ll be out of ODM if it supports Ruto. The President has not done anything that can make me want to be in his government,” the senator said.
In a previous interview, Mr Sifuna also indicated that he would leave ODM should it take the decision to back Dr Ruto’s re-election.
Mr Nyamita recently said he is ready to seek an alternative ticket to contest Migori governor seat if he is sidelined by ODM.
“The party must conduct credible primaries. If not, we will get alternatives,” he said.
Mr Owino has in recent days talked of plans to deny him the party ticket.
“I know ODM may not give me the ticket because Johnson Sakaja was endorsed at the Bomas of Kenya,” the Embakasi East MP said.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino speaks during the World Teachers Day Celebrations at Kenya Science Campus in Nairobi on October 5, 2025.
“Fortunately, that does not matter since voters make the decision. I am against the broad-based government because it is the right thing to do.”
Mr Mbadi, the immediate former party chairman who was made the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary in July last year, described what is going on in ODM as “normal” jostling.
He said it is normal for there to be disruption after the exit of a towering political figure.
“You don’t expect such a leader to vacate the scene and everything to remain the same. Water stirs when a stone is dropped in. If a huge tree falls, there must be casualties and birds will scatter,” he said.
“The tradition and our party constitution say the party leader is the only person allowed to negotiate any arrangement, be it a coalition or the political direction of ODM.”
The minister added that everyone else will give views but it is the party leader who makes the final decision.
