Split in Raila's party plays out at funeral over ties with Ruto

A major battle for the soul of the Orange Democratic Movement looms large as rival factions emerged even before the burial of party leader Raila Odinga—with President William Ruto throwing a spanner into the works.

Two opposing camps traded barbs openly in Ruto’s presence, signaling a turbulent period ahead for the 20-year-old party that has long defined Kenya’s opposition politics.

The confrontation began after a section of ODM leaders aligned to the broad-based government wing sought to commit the party to Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.

The team, led by national chairperson Gladys Wanga and joined by ODM-leaning Cabinet Secretaries, declared that the Orange party would not only support the broad-based government but also back President Ruto’s second-term campaign.

“The last instructions he left us with are to work with you. And as a people, and as a party, that is where we will stand,” Wanga said, drawing murmurs of disapproval from a section of ODM rebels 

Ruto, seizing the moment, made it clear he would not allow Raila’s party to drift back into opposition politics.

“Let me make this clear today: ODM, be assured that you will form the next government or be part of the next government,” the President declared, aligning his remarks with the pro-government ODM wing.

“What I would not allow, out of respect for Raila, is for those who want to pull ODM out to go gamble with it out there,” he added.

On Sunday, Ruto openly admitted that Raila’s death was a personal and political blow.

“Some analysts have said that this is a big blow to me. Yes, it’s a very big blow,” he said.

His remarks at the funeral service of the former Prime Minister came amid growing signs of dissent within ODM, with insiders accusing some members of scheming to splinter the historic party.

Earlier, Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, MPs Ruth Odinga (Kisumu) and Millie Odhiambo (Suba North) also weighed in the debate, saying it was Raila's wish that the party continues working with Ruto.

"Before Baba went, he showed us the way, he brought us to broad-based government and that is where we are," Ledama said.

"Mr President, we shall remain united as ODM and remain in the broad-based government."

The assertion did not, however, go down well with Secretary General Edwin Sifuna's wing.

Addressing thousands of mourners who had turned up to bid Raila farewell, Sifuna dismissed Wanga's assertion accusing her of putting words in Raila's mouth.

The Nairobi senator said the party will stick to Raila's last public direction made on September 22 when he warned party officials against committing the party on matters that had not been sanctioned by the outfit.

Raila also hinted at ODM having a candidate in 2027 against President Ruto.

"We shall follow the last instructions Raila issued to the party," Sifuna said.

"As leaders , we should not speak for Raila. We must be silent and listen to what party members are saying. We must also be alive to Raila's latest instructions when he said, 'Who has told you that ODM will not have a candidate in 2027?'"

Sifuna however committed not to be part of any splinter group that will disintegrate the party.

"We should ask ourselves what we do to make Raila happy. This is not the time to push divisive narrative in ODM," Sifuna said.

"I want to say here to Baba that the party you have left us, I will not be part of any splinter group meant to disintegrate the party."

The comments by Sifuna signal a bigger tussle as he is likely to regroup with other dissidents like Embakasi East MP Babu Owino to spearhead a fight within ODM.

Members of the Ruto's Cabinet plucked from the party backed calls for ODM to continue working with Ruto.

"I have never betrayed Raila when he was alive and I will not betray his cause in death. I cannot be in a place Raila did not show me. I was taken to Ruto’s government by Raila," Mining CS Hassan Joho said.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said Raila as a respected community leader had shown the region the political direction to take.

"Mr President, don't be shaken, in our community a leader knows his death and he does show it, so when he is about to die he gives signs. Raila showed us before he died that he wants in government," Mbadi said.

Over the weekend, top leaders from Raila's Nyanza backyard declared the region will not abandon President William Ruto following the death of the opposition chief.

The leaders - both politicians and senior government officials - said they will stay put in the broad-based government and back Ruto’s re-election bid.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo and Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi said they will not betray Raila in death but will stick to the political path he had shown them by working with Ruto.

Speaking separately in Kisumu and Bondo, the leaders warned that anybody who thinks the region is now up for grabs politically is in for a rude shock

“Let nobody have delusions of taking the support of the people of this region out of government,” Interior PS Omollo said in Kisumu on Saturday.

“Raila did not make a mistake by joining President Ruto to form the broad-based government because that was his wish and we must grant him that.

“We are safe in the hands of President William Ruto and we want to thank him and appreciate him for giving our son the best send-off that was well deserving of his stature as a person who did everything for this country.”

Earlier, Wandayi had expresed the same sentiment, saying that Nyanza must take its rightful place in national decision-making by working with the government of the day.

He pointed out that Raila himself had openly indicated his preference for President Ruto, and his supporters must not depart from the path.

Speaking in Bondo, Siaya county, Wandayi—one of Raila’s long-time confidants— said ODM would continue working with Ruto just as Raila had envisioned, insisting the cooperation was part of Raila’s legacy.

“Baba Raila Amolo Odinga has left us in government led by President William Ruto, and that is where we are going to stay till the end,” he declared.

 “I can dare say without any fear of contradiction that we are going to walk step by step with President William Ruto to the end, now and beyond 2027."

Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi warned the region against entertaining premature kingship by a section of politicians who were not acting in the best interest of the region.

“Let nobody attempt to install himself as the Luo kingpin or he will face our wrath,” Atandi said.

Wandayi also lauded ODM’s decision to appoint Raila’s elder brother, Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, as the acting party leader, calling it a wise and stabilising move.

“In fact, I will be proposing as a life party member of ODM that ODM convenes very quickly, soon after Baba’s send-off, a national delegates convention to confirm Dr Oburu’s appointment, and in fact to elect him officially as the party leader of ODM,” Wandayi said.

Pundits have however termed the move as a strategy to yoke the 20-year-old party into a permanent working arrangement with Ruto.

“They have rushed to install Oburu because he is strongly for the broad-based politics,” political analyst Martin Andati told the Star.

During the state funeral mass at Nyayo stadium, Oburu said he was ready to take up the challenge despite the enormity of the task before him.

“I promise you I will not disappoint,” he declared.

Raila and Ruto entered into a working agreement on March 7 this year, a deal that saw several of Raila’s allies, including Wandayi and Treasury CS John Mbadi, incorporated into what was described as a broad-based government.

The coalition was formed in the wake of Gen Z-led anti-government protests sparked by a controversial finance bill and the high cost of living—unrest that nearly crippled the Kenya Kwanza administration.

The leaders’ statement appears to target a section of Nyanza lawmakers who have voiced opposition to any political dealings with President Ruto.

They argued that aligning with Ruto’s administration gives ODM unnecessary baggage and undermines Raila’s long struggle for justice, democracy, and fair governance.

The Wandayi team also thanked the President for according Raila a befitting send-off, the first ever treatment to a son of the region.

“We want to thank Ruto for according our son a befitting send off,” Atandi said.

“By giving him full military honours and state funeral, Ruto has done the best to our leader,” Wandayi said.

INSTANT ANALYSIS

The declaration to back Ruto sets the stage for a possible political shift in a region that has long been the bedrock of opposition politics. As the 2027 elections draw closer, the eyes will be on how the Nyanza vote bloc will realign in the absence of Raila Odinga — a man who defined its politics for over three decades.