Sprawling internal divisions have rocked major political parties and coalitions and could cost them victory in the November 27 by-elections.
Party leaders are locked in tussles with grassroots officials and rival factions over who should carry the flag in the contests, exposing simmering rivalries that could shape future political realignments.
President William Ruto chairs a joint ODM–Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting in Karen alongside opposition leader Raila Odinga on August 18, 2025.
Photo credit: PCS
In other instances, officials have thrown their weight behind non-party candidates to express their displeasure at the manner in which party tickets have been issued.
The feud is evident in nearly all the major parties and coalitions, including President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Kenya Kwanza camp, and Mr Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the broad-based team.
The united opposition under Democracy for the Citizen’s Party (DCP) chief Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Party’s Justin Muturi, DAP-K under Eugene Wamalwa and People’s Liberation Party of Martha Karua, a coalition that includes former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i, are all sailing in the same ship.
In Mr Odinga’s ODM party, disputes have emerged in counties like Homa Bay, Siaya and Kakamega, where rival camps are vouching for different aspirants.
In Homa Bay, there are reports that Mr Boyd Were, son of former MP Ong’ondo Were, is the party’s blue-eyed boy, a move that has already triggered defections, while in Ugunja, insiders say forces in the party appear to lean towards Mr Moses Omondi.
Other aspirants eying the Kasipul MP seat are businessman Philip Aroko, who has since announced that he will vie as an independent candidate, Robert Riaga, Dr Adel Ottoman, former radio journalist George Otieno, political commentator Newton Ogada, and Rateng Otiende, among others.
In Ugunja, apart from Mr Omondi, others in the race are Chris Budo, lawyer Maurice Okumu, businessman Joseph Aluru, Fredrick Owino, Fredrick Oyugi Dor and Sam Okoyo.
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua (centre) addresses journalists flanked by (from left) Dr Fred Matiangi, former Attorney-General Justin Muturi, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and other opposition leaders at SKM Command Center in Nairobi on July 8, 2025.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Local leaders in both Kasipul and Ugunja have accused the national office of imposing candidates, while others insist on consensus to avoid bruising primaries.
The standoff has sparked fears of further defections and independent bids that could split the vote in traditional ODM strongholds.
Fearing a fallout, the party has pledged to conduct its primaries in two volatile constituencies and two Wards, but still, there are fears the elections could be skewed to favour particular individuals.
The ODM party’s National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) announced that it will conduct its primaries for Kasipul Constituency in Homa Bay County on Wednesday, September 24, Ugunja Constituency in Siaya County on Friday, September 26, Kariobangi North ward in Embakasi North in Nairobi County and Lake Zone ward, Turkana North in Turkana County on Saturday, September 27.
“The party primaries elections will be conducted through universal suffrage by registered party members. Voting will be by secret ballot,” NECC chairperson Emily Awita announced.
The party was forced to withdraw its candidate for the Malava MP seat following an internal feud pitting Kakamega County leadership and Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, who is the former ODM deputy party leader.
The disagreements emanated from the recent party polls in which Kakamega Governor Fernandes Baraza was elected ODM party county chairman against Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera.
Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa addressing ODM delegates from the county at Bishop Nicholas Stam Pastoral Centre on August 25, 2025 where they unanimously, by show of hand, confirmed him as their chairman during party elections.
Photo credit: Isaac Wale | Nation
CS Oparanya has, however, rallied several MPs, including Woman Rep Elsie Muhanda, to rally behind Mr Nabwera, further throwing the party’s unity in the county into disarray.
“I was honoured to grace the homecoming ceremony of the newly elected ODM Chairperson- Kakamega County, Hon Nabii Nabwera. The event, held at St Emmaculate Heart Secondary School Grounds, Lugari Constituency, was also attended by MPs, MCAs, thousands of ODM supporters, among others,” Mr Oparanya said after the event held on Saturday, September 13.
But Mr Barasa, who had been declared the winner for the post of Kakamega County ODM chairperson, dismissed Mr Oparanya and urged President William Ruto and Mr Odinga to “call the CS to order” over what he termed as rocking the broad-based government.
“You have been given a job by this broad-based government as a CS to unite the people of Kakamega and the entire Western region, but since you are not satisfied with the job, you are sending MPs to tell the president that you wanted to be CS Finance, you are now using MPs to destabilize ODM, I want to tell the president, you must call your CS Oparanya to order,” Mr Barasa said, in an escalation of the feud.
He went on: “You cannot fly here with a plane to attend a homecoming party of an individual who was not voted for. That’s total drama, and you must avoid such embarrassments.”
The wrangles, the Nation has established, forced ODM party to abandon fielding a candidate in Malava Constituency, and has since pledged support for President Ruto’s UDA candidate.
ODM will also back UDA candidates in Banissa constituency and Baringo senatorial race under the broad-based framework.
But still, the broad-based team is not sitting pretty as there is contention in Magarini Constituency where ODM party offered immediate former MP Harrison Kombe a direct ticket, while UDA has insisted on backing Mr Stanley Karisa Kenga.
In an earlier interview with Nation , UDA National Elections Board chairman Anthony Mwaura said the party would ask the ODM candidate to step down in favour of the UDA candidate, arguing that Mr Kenga is the most popular choice, as evidenced by opinion polls already conducted in the area.
“The plan is to ensure that we win more than 80 percent of the seats in the 23 electoral areas. UDA has aspirants in both Ugunja and Kasipul constituencies, but we will ask them to drop and support ODM candidates in those areas,” said Mr Mwaura.
In Mbeere North Constituency, Mr Gachagua’s DCP party was forced to withdraw its candidate in favour of Mr Muturi’s DP, after a bruising power struggle.
Former Attorney General Justin Muturi (center), flanked by Eugene Wamalwa, Kalonzo Musyoka and Rigathi Gachagua addresses journalists in Nairobi on June 11, 2025 over the murder of Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
The wrangles escalated to such an extent that Mr Gachagua sanctioned a private opinion poll before arriving at the “no contest” verdict. His decision to step aside caught many supporters off guard.
The Mbeere North seat fell vacant after President Ruto appointed MP Geoffrey Ruku (DP) to the Cabinet, prompting a by-election.
Many of Mr Gachagua’s loyalists expected DCP to field a candidate to test his influence. Instead, he announced the party would support Mr Muturi’s DP.
DP, on its part, had unveiled Muminji MCA and secular musician Newton Kariuki, popularly known as Karis Mwana M-Embu. Mr Mbui had already launched his campaign, claiming to have spent more than Sh10 million, when Mr Gachagua suddenly ordered him to stand down—a directive the MCA rejected.
Mr Mbui later declared he would vie as an independent, later joining Moses Kuria’s Chama Cha Kazi.
Behind the scenes, negotiations between DCP and DP were, by Mr Muturi’s own admission, “intense and bruising.”
Mr Muturi admitted the announcement brought relief within the opposition alliance, though tensions remain after it emerged that Dr Matiang’i, a member of the united opposition, has equally fielded a candidate for the seat, throwing the unity factor to the winds.
Mr Isaak Muringi (Reverend) is flying the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) ticket, linked to Dr Matiang’i.
His campaign has stirred controversy as his posters carry Dr Matiang’i’s image, despite the ex-CS’s known ties to Jubilee.
“We are still engaging and hope to unite under one candidate. Nevertheless, the majority will have their way and the minority their say. Consensus building is ongoing,” stated Mr Muturi.
The united opposition is also facing a major test in Malava constituency, where both DCP and Mr Wamalwa’s DAP-K have locked horns.
Mr Gachagua’s DCP has fronted Mr Collins Busienga, whose campaigns are being led by DCP Deputy party leader Cleophas Malala, while DAP-K is backing the Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary-General Seth Panyako.
Internally, DAP-K has been struggling to manage tensions between party leader Mr Wamalwa and deputy leader George Natembeya, who is also the Trans Nzoia governor.
The fallout has spilled into candidate selection, with both camps backing rival aspirants.
Petitions to eject the two leaders have only deepened mistrust, raising concerns that the party may enter the by-elections divided and weakened.
