The Orange Democratic Movement continues to face an important moment as senior leaders call for unity, dialogue, and respect for the party’s founding values. Recent statements and actions within the party show an effort to cool tensions and protect ODM from internal divisions at a time when many members are reflecting on its future.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has openly stated that he does not want to be remembered as the person who caused divisions within the party. While speaking on Wednesday, January 7, Sifuna reminded members that he had made a public promise during Raila Odinga’s burial that he would not destroy the party. He repeated that pledge and said it still guides his actions. According to Sifuna, unity must come before personal differences, even where there have been strong disagreements in the past.
He explained that he is willing to engage with all ODM members, including those who have criticized or insulted him. His focus, he said, is to keep the party together and functioning.
“As I said at Mzee’s burial, it will not be me to wreck the ODM Party, it will not be Sifuna. I made that promise to Mzee, and I want to repeat it here. I want to tell you, there is no one in ODM, it doesn’t matter how many times or how badly you have insulted me, there is no one in ODM I will not sit down with.
“You have asked us to sit and talk. I am very prepared; it doesn’t matter what has happened between us. I am going to extend that olive branch,” he said.
His remarks came at a time when the party has been dealing with internal disputes, including a recent petition that sought his removal from office. That petition was filed by Migori Senator Eddy Oketch but was later withdrawn.
Mama Ida Odinga also addressed party members and reflected on Raila Odinga’s deep attachment to ODM. She described the party as one of his greatest loves and reminded members that Raila led the party with discipline, fairness, and respect for the people’s voice.
She said his leadership style was based on constant consultation and listening to party members and citizens.
“Raila also had another love and that is the love for the ODM. I thank the party and all the staff who served Baba in different capacities, for their dedication to him in life and in death. Baba ran ODM with dedication, with firm and fair hands.
“Raila ran ODM on the principle of constant consultations and always referring to the people. It is my wish that we can preserve the party in his honour as a matter of service to our country,” she stated.
A day earlier, Senator Eddy Oketch officially withdrew his petition against Sifuna. In a letter written by his lawyers to the ODM Chairperson on Monday, January 5, Oketch said the decision was made after consultations with the party’s top leadership and out of respect for the late Raila Odinga.
“Following wide consultations with the Party Leader Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga and with utmost respect to the spirit of the founding Party Leader the late Raila Amollo Odinga who embraced dialogue even with his fiercest enemies as the most preferred method of dispute resolution, we have received further instructions from our client as hereunder,” the letter read.
The lawyers noted that although the concerns raised against Sifuna still stand, Oketch agreed to withdraw the motion and instead seek solutions through internal party mechanisms.
“Being cognizant of the breaches as outlined in our aforementioned letter and the offensive remarks made by Senator Edwin Sifuna both against the Party and its members, our client has in consultation with the Party Leader and the relevant Party organs been persuaded to withdraw the Motion Letter dated 5th January, 2026 and instead invoke Article 16(1)(g) of the Party Constitution which vests the powers to facilitate amicable resolution of disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms upon the Party Leader,” the letter added.
Oketch also urged the party leader to use constitutional powers to protect both the party and members who felt affected by the issues raised.
“The Party Leader is therefore implored upon to exercise the said powers in order to protect both the Party and its members who have been victims of the wanton attacks which formed the subject of the complaint,” the letter concluded.
