Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has warned that “a lot of money is flying around” within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as pressure mounts for the party to enter a coalition agreement more than a year ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a televised interview, Odinga questioned the source and intent of the funds being used to push ODM towards an early political deal, cautioning that premature commitments could weaken the party’s bargaining power and alienate its grassroots base.
Her remarks came three months after the death of ODM founder and longtime party leader Raila Odinga, and on the 32nd anniversary of the passing of her father, independence icon Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
Odinga said ODM should resist being rushed into coalition talks, insisting that 2027 “is not going anywhere”.
“Even if ODM sits still and does nothing, 2027 will come,” she said, arguing that any binding decision must follow wide consultations with party members across the country.
She revealed that the party’s Central Management Committee (CMC) recently met in Kilifi and called on the party chairperson to convene a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting to chart a collective way forward.
At the heart of her intervention was a pointed question about finances.
“We are seeing a situation where a lot of money is flying around, and there appears to be a deliberate push to commit ODM into a coalition agreement more than a year to the elections,” she said. “Where is the money coming from?”
Odinga noted that ODM had not received public funding from the government, raising concerns about who might be bankrolling the push and for what purpose.
She warned that entering government early could mean ODM would “carry whatever blame the ruling party will be accused of” without securing sufficient political leverage.
Addressing reports of divisions within the Odinga family and the party, the Kisumu Woman Representative dismissed claims of a rift, saying differences of opinion were part of a long-standing democratic culture.
“Our unity is not about to die,” she said. “We cannot always agree, but we will always voice our contradicting opinions.”
She cautioned against sidelining leaders with divergent views, arguing that ODM risked hollowing itself out by forcing people out rather than resolving ideological disagreements through dialogue.
“If we keep showing people the door, then who will be left?” she asked, urging party leaders to create forums for open discussion before engaging members through nationwide town hall meetings.
Odinga also questioned ODM’s numerical strength if it were to negotiate now, asking how effective the party would be without a strong bloc of MPs and governors.
“In 2007, ODM had more MPs than the ruling coalition,” she said, recalling that the party’s parliamentary strength had underpinned its influence during the 2008 power-sharing negotiations.
“Whatever negotiations ODM does must be backed by the masses,” she added. “At no point should we ever leave the people behind.”
ODM is currently led by Oburu Oginga, who took over the party leadership during a period of mourning.
Odinga said the challenges facing the party pre-dated his tenure and required inclusive solutions rather than hurried political deals.
Her comments are likely to intensify debate within ODM over its future direction as Kenya’s opposition landscape continues to shift ahead of the 2027 polls.
