The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has come out guns blazing to defend its party leader Raila Odinga, dismissing claims that his influence is dwindling in his political backyard of Nyanza.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday , ODM National Chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga slammed a local daily that reported Raila was met with public disapproval during the emotional burial of the late teacher Albert Ojwang’ in Kakoth village, Homa Bay County.
The report had claimed that mourners turned the funeral into a protest ground—demanding justice for Ojwang’ and simultaneously expressing anger over Raila’s political cooperation with President William Ruto under the newly formed broad-based dialogue framework.
But ODM maintains the event was hijacked by political opportunists and misrepresented by the media. “It was a national event that brought together mourners from all corners of the country, across political affiliations. To interpret the mood as a rejection of Raila is disingenuous,” said Wanga.
She added that Raila’s bond with the people of Nyanza remains rock solid, forged over decades of shared history, sacrifice, and a relentless push for reforms. “No funeral, no headline, and certainly no propaganda can erase that legacy,” she said.
Wanga accused unnamed individuals of politicizing a moment of grief and warned the media against being used to push false narratives. “This was a young teacher whose life ended tragically. Instead of honoring his memory, some have chosen to exploit the moment for cheap political mileage,” she stated.
The ODM statement emphasized that Raila Odinga continues to enjoy “unquestionable trust and loyalty” across the Nyanza region and beyond, and dismissed talk of rebellion as “wishful thinking.”
Raila, who did not attend the burial in person, had earlier condoled with the family and demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s arrest and mysterious death.
With political temperatures rising ahead of the 2027 elections, ODM’s response signals that the party is keen on protecting its dominance in the region and shielding its leader from narratives that could weaken his position nationally.
