The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has sharply condemned what it describes as a sustained smear campaign by a local daily against its party leader, Raila Odinga, and the broader Odinga family.
In a statement issued Tuesday, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna faulted the publication for what he termed as conducting “a campaign of demonising and tarnishing” Raila’s person, legacy, and political standing for both political and commercial gain.
Sifuna singled out the paper’s lead story from Monday, May 5, which he described as “misleading, packed with lies, malice, mischief, and a clear vendetta against the Odinga family.”
Sifuna refuted claims in the publication that political roles currently held by members of the Odinga family were a result of a political pact between the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ODM.
Sifuna emphasised that many of these roles were either elective or independent parliamentary appointments, not products of any backroom deals.
“The paper attributes these roles to the so-called ‘handshake,’ a claim designed to undermine the credibility of legitimate electoral and parliamentary processes,” Sifuna said.
He added that the paper’s narrative repackaged past injustices — including the sacking of Dr Wenwa Akinyi Oranga from the Pyrethrum Board of Kenya due to her family identity — as justification for ongoing exclusion and vilification.
ODM further claimed the daily is promoting a discriminatory message suggesting that “anyone bearing the Odinga name has no place in Kenya’s public life.”
Sifuna likened this to the exclusionary practices institutionalised under the regimes of former presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi.
He also pointed out what he called hypocrisy, noting that the paper has never raised similar concerns about other prominent political families whose members simultaneously hold multiple public offices.
“The underlying message in this sensational and skewed piece is clear: that an Odinga must not serve the public in any capacity if another Odinga is leading the opposition; and that an Odinga must not be permitted to serve even when political temperatures have cooled and the nation is seeking unity and dialogue,” Sifuna stated.
ODM reaffirmed its support for all Kenyans holding public office, “regardless of family or region of origin,” and called on its supporters to resist what it described as blackmail and intimidation by the media house.
Sifuna said Kenya is a constitutional democracy founded on equality, fairness, and merit, not inherited exclusion.
However, a civil society group, Kenya Bora Tuitakayo, has come out in defence of the daily, saying ODM’s statement amounts to a threat against the media.
In its statement, Kenya Bora Tuitakayo said that instead of issuing threats, Raila should help his party clarify whether it sees itself as part of the government or the opposition.
The lobby said the paper "must be living up to its purpose and mission if, as a media house, it is making powerful individuals uncomfortable".
“That statement is intended to intimidate and threaten the media in Kenya generally, to make them lapdogs of the men in power, instead of watchdogs,” the group added.
