A brewing political conflict within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has developed into a public face-off following East African Legislative Assembly member Winnie Odinga’s involvement in the ongoing disagreement between Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and the family of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The dispute, which began as private counsel regarding the Orange Democratic Movement’s future trajectory, has now evolved into a contentious public split, revealing significant fractures within the party in the wake of Odinga’s passing.
The controversy originated during a three-day ODM strategic meeting in Mombasa, where party officials convened to discuss the political organization’s future leadership and stability. In what was meant to be a private session, Mr Mbadi cautioned party members against individuals he alleged were seeking to undermine ODM for their own political benefits.
According to the Treasury CS, the absence of the party’s long-time leader had provided an opportunity for certain politicians to position themselves for leadership, threatening the progress ODM had achieved during the past twenty years.
Mr Mbadi additionally warned against efforts to treat the party as personal property, asserting that ODM belonged to supporters throughout the nation rather than to any specific family or community group.
“We must recognize our support base. North Eastern has consistently backed ODM, with two out of three governors supporting it. The party does not belong to a single community,” Mbadi reportedly stated during the gathering.
In comments seemingly directed at Odinga family members, the CS added that no individual should claim authority within the party due to familial connections with its previous leader.
“It is not a family possession. We have a political movement where someone, merely because she is the sister of a party leader, believes she can give us orders. That is unacceptable. Baba was an exceptionally strong leader,” he declared.
Although the discussion was meant to stay private, information from the meeting swiftly became public, prompting strong reactions from ODM supporters and Odinga family members.
Winnie Odinga later responded via a Facebook statement, rejecting assertions that she was aligned with opposing factions within ODM. She emphasized that her priority remained maintaining unity within the party, which she characterized as part of her father’s enduring political legacy.
The legislator accused Mr Mbadi of politically targeting her unfairly through remarks implying that ODM was not a family asset and that bearing the Odinga name should not confer any special privileges within the organization.
Her response has since heightened discussions among ODM supporters, with various factions viewing the conflict as a power struggle for the party’s future direction and identity following the death of its founding leader.
As criticism grew, Mr Mbadi, speaking today in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County, sought to defend himself against allegations that he had shown disrespect to the late Raila Odinga. The CS maintained that throughout his political career, he had remained loyal to the former prime minister and had served him devotedly for many years.
“I began collaborating with Raila at age 20. No one compelled me to work with him. I served Raila conscientiously, which is why he chose to recognize my contributions,” Mbadi stated.
The Treasury CS attributed much of his political advancement to Odinga’s guidance and backing. Throughout the years, Mr Mbadi held numerous high-ranking government and party roles under ODM leadership, including assistant minister during the Grand Coalition Government, ODM national chairperson for ten years, National Assembly Minority Leader for five years, and chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.
Mbadi also recognized that his current Cabinet appointment was enabled by the assistance he received from the former prime minister.
“He also appointed me as a minister. Without Raila’s influence, I would not be a minister today. The respect between me and Baba is well documented. I continue to honor him even in death,” he added.
The continuing dialogue has revealed growing fissures within ODM as leaders contend over the party’s path in the post-Raila period, sparking concerns among supporters about cohesion and succession within one of Kenya’s major opposition-aligned political entities.
By Brian Okoth
This article was first published on Radio47.