A fresh storm is brewing within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as internal divisions deepen over the fate of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between President William Ruto and the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, with Raila’s sister, Ruth Odinga, now publicly defending party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna.
The MoU, signed in March 2025, was intended to stabilise the country following Gen-Z-led protests and lay the foundation for structured cooperation between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza administration. However, with less than a month remaining to its expiry, questions over its implementation have exposed growing unease within ODM ranks.
At the centre of the dispute is Senator Sifuna’s recent interview on Citizen TV, where he openly questioned the source of funding behind high-profile ODM-branded rallies popularly referred to as Linda Ground conventions. His remarks triggered sharp online attacks from a section of party supporters, with critics branding him a “rebel.”
In a strongly worded statement, the Kisumu Women Representative came to Sifuna’s defence, questioning why a party official charged with financial oversight should be vilified for demanding accountability. She noted that despite the visible use of helicopters, large tents, branded regalia and mass mobilisation—activities that suggest expenditure running into millions of shillings—the ODM Party has not spent any money on the rallies.
Ruth Odinga raised pointed questions about the source of the funds, asking whether governors or Members of Parliament were financing the activities, whether public funds were being used, or whether unnamed benefactors were bankrolling the campaigns. She warned that such opaque financing raises serious concerns about political influence and control within the party.
The ODM stalwart cautioned against silencing dissenting voices, arguing that internal debate has historically been part of the party’s identity. She drew parallels with Raila Odinga’s own political journey, noting that even during the 2008–2013 coalition government, he maintained an independent stance despite working within a power-sharing arrangement.
Central to the unfolding dispute is Sifuna’s assertion that ODM is owed approximately Sh12 billion in public funding by the government—money constitutionally allocated to political parties based on their parliamentary strength.
Ruth Odinga argued that the failure to release the funds is deliberate, suggesting that direct financing would limit external control over the party’s political activities.
She further cited incidents where leaders perceived to be straying from an approved narrative have faced hostility at ODM-linked events, pointing to the recent booing of Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo during a gathering in Kisumu as a sign of shrinking internal democratic space.
With the MoU yet to be fully implemented and its expiry looming, Sifuna has publicly declared the agreement “dead,” a position Ruth Odinga defended. She questioned the logic of treating an unfulfilled pact as binding and placed responsibility squarely on President Ruto as the principal signatory.
As ODM grapples with internal dissent and uncertainty over its engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration, the growing divisions underscore a broader struggle over party autonomy, political funding and the future direction of the movement founded by Raila Odinga.
