Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has sharply rebuked ODM Acting Secretary General Catherine Omanyo over claims that she has been “sitting on the fence” amid escalating internal wrangles rocking the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Speaking in response to Omanyo’s accusations, the outspoken lawmaker dismissed the claims as misleading, insisting she has consistently taken a principled stand aimed at reconciling rival factions within the party rather than fueling divisions.
At the heart of the dispute are tensions between the Linda Mwananchi and Linda Ground factions, whose rivalry has exposed growing cracks within ODM and sparked uncertainty over the party’s leadership direction.
Millie defended her position, saying her focus has been on pushing for dialogue, unity, and restoration of normalcy within the Raila Odinga-led party, rather than taking sides in what she described as an unnecessary power struggle.
“I chose the path of uniting the party instead of deepening divisions,” she maintained, while rejecting suggestions that her calls for peace amounted to political neutrality.
In a startling revelation, the legislator claimed that her unity push made her a target, alleging that goons were deployed to attack her because of her stand — a development she says exposed the lengths some individuals are willing to go to in the battle for control of the party.
The MP further linked the current turbulence to efforts to take over the role associated with ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, arguing that attempts to interfere with established party structures have contributed to the chaos now playing out publicly.
Her remarks add a new twist to the deepening fallout within ODM, where competing factions have increasingly traded accusations over loyalty, leadership, and the future direction of the opposition outfit.
Political observers say the standoff could test ODM’s internal cohesion at a time when the party is under pressure to project unity ahead of future political realignments.
Millie’s response also signals a hardening of positions among senior party figures, even as calls grow for Raila Odinga and other top ODM leaders to intervene and calm tensions before the rift widens further.
With accusations and counter-accusations now spilling into the open, the unfolding wrangles risk shaping broader conversations about succession politics and authority within one of Kenya’s most influential political parties.
