The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has announced that it will hold a Special Delegates Convention later this month in Nairobi County.
In a notice on Friday, March 6, the party said the convention is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 27, 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m.
“PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Articles 47 and 49, as read together with Articles 51(3) (d) and 21(1) (i) of the Orange Democratic Movement Party Constitution, a Special Delegates Convention shall be held on Friday 27th March 2026, in Nairobi County, commencing at 9:00 am,” read the notice in part.
The notice indicates that the high-level gathering is expected to address key internal party matters, including ratification of leadership decisions and constitutional resolutions.
According to the announcement, the convention will bring together a wide range of ODM leadership structures and representatives from across the party’s national and county-level organs.
Those expected to attend include all members of the National Executive Committee, the party’s Parliamentary Group, as well as members of the Council of Governors and Deputy Governors affiliated with ODM.
The party has also invited all chairpersons of the Branch Executive Committees and chairpersons of County Coordinating Committees, alongside majority and minority leaders of county assemblies aligned with the party.
In addition, the convention will include leadership from the party’s special leagues, including national officials of the ODM Youth League, Women League, and Disability League.
Members of the party’s standing committees will also participate in the convention.
The notice further outlines a series of nominated delegates meant to ensure representation from different regions and party structures.
Each county will have one member representing marginalized groups.
Branch Executive Committees will also nominate one representative in counties where the Member of the National Assembly is an elected ODM member.
County Coordinating Committees will nominate additional representatives in specific circumstances.
These include one woman where the County Woman Representative belongs to ODM, one representative where the Senator is an ODM member, and one representative where the Governor is an ODM member.
To ensure broader participation, the National Executive Committee will also determine top-up delegates drawn from party branches.
The convention will follow a structured agenda beginning with prayers, followed by formal notice to convene the meeting and adoption of the agenda.
Delegates will then deliberate on key resolutions, including the ratification of the National Governing Council’s resolution regarding party leadership.
They will also take note of a resolution by the National Executive Committee concerning Article 87 of the party constitution, before proceeding to speeches and an address by the party leader.
However, the election of party officials remains conspicuously missing among the activities that would happen on the day.
Pressure to convene the meeting had been mounting from sections of the party leadership who argued that only a delegates’ convention could legitimise major decisions, including party leadership.
Among those who raised concerns was Winnie Odinga, daughter of the late ODM leader, who criticised changes within the party following her father’s death.
The planned convention comes against the backdrop of an intensifying internal power struggle within ODM that has drawn sharp divisions among senior party figures and supporters.
It escalated last month after the party’s National Executive Committee resolved to remove Sifuna from the influential position of secretary general during a meeting held in Mombasa.
The NEC cited concerns about discipline within the party leadership and installed Omanyo in an acting capacity pending the election of a substantive office holder.
However, the decision immediately triggered political turbulence within ODM, with several leaders rejecting the move and rallying behind the outspoken Nairobi senator.
The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) issued orders blocking Sifuna’s removal and directed parties involved in the dispute to present their submissions on March 12, 2026.
Despite the tribunal’s intervention, the disagreement has hardened into two distinct camps within the party, each advocating a different political direction.
One faction, commonly referred to as the “Linda Ground” group, is aligned with ODM leader and Siaya senator Oburu Oginga and is seen as supportive of a political arrangement that could see the party cooperate with President William Ruto’s camp ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The opposing camp, known as Linda Mwananchi, includes Sifuna and several ODM leaders such as Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Siaya governor James Orengo.
Their rivalry has played out through parallel political rallies, competing public statements and disagreements over the party’s long-term strategy
