Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga.
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has joined her niece, Winnie Odinga, in warning sections of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) against rushing into a pre-election pact with President William Ruto’s alliance, cautioning that it could disadvantage the party on multiple fronts.
Ms Odinga, who also serves as ODM’s deputy organising secretary, urged the party to first focus on strengthening its internal structures and ensuring the full implementation of the 10-point agenda contained in the cooperation agreement signed by former ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Ruto, before entering into any formal coalition talks with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
President William Ruto and the opposition leader, the late Raila Odinga, sign an agreement between UDA and ODM in the presence of their party members.
She argued that ODM should prioritise internal stability and speak with one voice before considering any new political arrangement ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“ODM should not be in a hurry to enter into a coalition agreement as though it is some kind of emergency. 2027 is not going anywhere. Even if ODM sits still and does nothing, 2027 will still come,” Ms Odinga said.
Her remarks come about a week after ODM’s Central Management Committee (CMC) meeting in Kilifi mandated the party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, to initiate talks with UDA.
Ms Odinga spoke on Wednesday night during an interview with a vernacular television station, offering candid reflections on Kenya’s political landscape barely three months after the death of her brother Raila Odinga and the subsequent loss of her sister, Beryl.
While she denied aligning herself with either faction within the party between those supporting or opposing President Ruto’s re-election, she stressed that she remains firmly committed to the broad-based government framework crafted by the former Prime Minister.
She noted that Raila was firm on ODM leadership with a clear rider that the 10-point agenda, which she insists must be honoured.
Her comments echoed sentiments expressed days earlier by her niece and East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Winnie Odinga, who, while addressing supporters in Kibra, warned that the party risked losing public trust if selfish interests were allowed to override collective purpose.
Winnie Odinga addresses a political rally at Kamukunji Grounds in Kibera, Nairobi, on January 18,2026.
“What we are saying today is relax. Baba died just the other day. What is the hurry? Let us talk first and move forward together. Baba was never a sycophant. There was not a single day when Baba told us he had left us,” Winnie said.
On Tuesday, Ms Odinga further stirred debate by alleging that large sums of money were being deployed to destabilise ODM—a development she said should deeply concern party supporters.
“We are seeing a situation where a lot of money is flying around, and there appears to be a deliberate attempt to commit ODM to a coalition agreement more than a year before the next General Election. Where is the money coming from? Is it from the Budget and Appropriations Committee at the National Assembly? I know the government has not given ODM money, so where is all this money coming from?” she posed.
She argued that while those pushing for an early commitment may see merit in it—whether personal or collective—such haste risks burdening ODM with blame for the failures of the ruling administration.
Ms Odinga appeared keen to avoid a repeat of the 2022 experience, when, following the handshake, ODM carried much of the public discontent associated with the failures of former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration—a burden that ultimately dented Raila’s presidential bid.
"Listen to the people"
She said that ODM leaders cannot purport to make binding decisions on behalf of party members without first listening to the people, stressing that ODM remains a people’s movement with a national footprint stretching from Turkana to Kwale, Wajir and Isebania.
“As you negotiate, where is your numerical strength as a party? You may negotiate for Cabinet Secretary slots, yes, but if you do not have governors or MPs, how will that work for you? That is why we must be cautious. And most importantly, we should never leave the people behind,” she said.
She cited the 2007 elections, when ODM secured more MPs than the ruling coalition, enabling the party to wield significant influence, including producing the Speaker of the National Assembly. She noted that the 2008 post-election negotiations were anchored in the will of the masses who stood firmly behind the party.
Ms Odinga proposed that ODM convene town hall meetings across the country to listen to members’ concerns and ensure their views are incorporated into any final decision.
Following the Central Management Committee meeting in Kilifi, she expects the party chairperson to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to allow the leadership to openly exchange ideas on the way forward.
She dismissed calls from some quarters for an immediate National Delegates Conference (NDC) to elect a new party leader, saying there was no rush and that such a process would come in due course. She pointed out that some branches and polling stations are yet to establish fully fledged offices, making it premature to hold an NDC before grassroots processes are completed.
On the leadership of her brother, Dr Oburu Oginga, Ms Odinga said he assumed the role at a time of deep grief but stressed that the differences now emerging did not begin after he took office. She noted that the issues existed even when Raila Odinga was alive and that he had promised to convene a caucus to address them.
Without naming individuals, she accused some senior party leaders of drawing Dr Oginga into political battles that were not originally his.
However, she warned against resolving ideological differences by pushing people out of the party, cautioning that ODM stood to lose valuable support.
“If we keep showing people the door, then who will be left? Sifuna will leave with his people, Babu Owino with his people. We must create a platform where leaders can sit and talk, then reach out to the people through town hall meetings. That is how a people’s movement is supposed to work,” she said.
Ms Odinga downplayed claims of rifts within the Odinga family, attributing the perceived tension to the family’s inability to properly mourn, convene and reach consensus since the death of their pillar, Raila Odinga.
Dr Oburu Oginga and his sister Ruth Odinga in a past event.
“What has been interpreted as a ‘rift’ in the family is simply the democratic space we have enjoyed over the years. We may not always agree, but we will always express our differing views,” she said.
She added that the family had scarcely had time to grieve privately, having been occupied with hosting visitors and attending to party matters since Mr Odinga’s death.
Ms Odinga reaffirmed that the family would continue to support Dr Oburu Oginga, noting that even the former Prime Minister consulted him before making major political decisions. She expressed confidence that any differences involving Winnie Odinga could be resolved amicably through dialogue within both the family and the party.
“If there is anything Winnie wants in the party, she will sit with Oburu and it will be addressed. What I want to assure our supporters is that ODM remains united, grounded in its ideals, and committed to walking with the people,” she said.
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