A public disagreement between Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga regarding the future path of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) dominated headlines this week, revealing growing rifts within Kenya’s longest-standing political party.
The dispute flared following Mbadi’s comments at a party meeting in Mombasa, where he targeted Ruth Odinga’s involvement in party matters, accusing her of “feigning reconciliation between ODM’s divided camps” and implying she had misrepresented his previous statements.
The core of the conflict centers on how ODM should define its identity and direction following Raila Odinga’s passing, the party’s deceased leader whose death last year created a leadership void and provoked fierce internal competition.
“You cannot hold us back,” Mbadi allegedly informed party members. “This organization is not the property of a single family… you cannot simply give us orders because you are the sister of a party founder.”
A YouTube video captures the Treasury Secretary emphasizing that ODM operates as a national entity, not a family business, and that allegiance to a family name does not grant the right to dictate to others.
“This party is not a family possession… if you are Raila’s sister, please show us respect,” he stated, as per social media recordings released shortly after his comments. “We too stood with Raila. We must now oversee this transition. Baba is gone.”
Mbadi also allegedly mentioned that certain party members are “remaining neutral” and obstructing the party’s progress, a statement many observers understood as criticism of individuals attempting to reconcile the fractured groups within ODM.
Ruth Odinga reacted strongly in her own public declaration, characterizing Mbadi’s remarks as an assault on her family’s heritage and rejecting claims that she was capitalizing on her deceased brother’s reputation for political gain.
“I consider this a personal attack because when I surveyed the room, I was the sole Odinga present,” she wrote, pointing out that ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga, her brother, did not attend the gathering.
Ruth also challenged Mbadi’s assertion that the party doesn’t belong to the Odingas, arguing that the premise disregarded the contributions made by her family and the party’s adherents throughout Kenya. “Raila Odinga was not created by the ODM Party,” she countered, “it was the Kenyan people who shaped his legacy.”
The confrontations signal a wider power struggle within ODM, as leaders weigh whether to form partnerships with other political entities or maintain a distinct opposition stance. Mbadi has been linked with party officials pushing for stronger ties with the current administration, whereas groups loyal to the late Raila Odinga and others insist on preserving an independent approach leading up to the 2027 elections.
As ODM moves through this turbulent phase, the party’s cohesion hangs in the balance, and both Mbadi and Ruth Odinga’s declarations will influence how supporters and voters perceive the party’s chances in the upcoming electoral period.