Battle for the region: How ODM seeks to lock Kisumu for Ruto’s 2027 reelection

ODM has unleashed it's political artillery in a bid to ringfence its strongholds as the outfit meets supporters for what is dubbed "Kisumu declaration".

The Oburu Oginga team with the backing by "experts" has in the recent days rolled out an elaborate mobilisation campaign for what insiders describe as a "grand rally".

The meeting is schedule on Sunday at the Kiremebe grounds in Kisumu, as the team moves to lock the region for President William Ruto's second term.

ODM has branded convoys that are expected to stream into the Lakeside city, complete with roadshow trucks.

The early display show heavy financial investment.

Party insiders say the rally is not only meant to consolidate ODM unity but also send a strong political message that the Oburu-led camp still commands influence across the region despite growing internal competition.

“Kisumu will be massive, we will show the world that Kisumu is firmly in ODM,” ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga said.

ODM deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo told the Star that Oburu will give direction to supporters during the Kirembe rally.

“I want to urge everyone to come to Kisumu to get direction from the party leader,” Omanyo said.

The show of force comes amid intensified rivalry within ODM, with the faction associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo reportedly seeking to position itself as the new political voice.

The Sifuna team last month held a well-attended rally raising fears they could snatch the region from President William Ruto’s re-election matrix.

Within the last two weeks, the Oburu camp has held seven-rally blitz as it builds momentum for tomorrows’ hyped Kisumu meeting.

The mobilisation campaign began in Nyakach Constituency on 16^th May, where the party held two separate rallies in Urudi and Katito before convening a delegates’ meeting in the constituency just days later.

The Nyakach delegates’ forum brought together senior party leaders led by ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga, national chairperson Gladys Wanga and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.

The team later shifted focus to Kisumu City, where they engaged boda-boda riders on May 22 as part of efforts to consolidate support among grassroots groups ahead of the major gathering.

The Orange Party held at least three meetings in the lakeside city in the last one week.

“We have only one reason to unite as a party, unite as a community, and plan for the mother of all rallies coming up on May 31st in Kirembe for the biggest party in East and Central Africa called ODM,” Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron told the Star.

“We invite everyone who believes that Luos should remain united and those who believe in working together as a party and as a community to attend.”

The party then extended the mobilisation to Nairobi, holding a rally at Dandora in Embakasi North Constituency on May 25 before returning to Kisumu County for more political engagements.

From Dandora, the leaders proceeded to Kisumu Central and held another rally in the neighbouring Kisumu West Constituency.

The rallies brought together ODM leaders, grassroots mobilisers and youth groups in a deliberate push to build momentum for the Sunday’s rally.

The final preparations for the mega rally gathered momentum on Thursday after the party flagged off an advance ground team of more than 10 branded high-end vehicles from Chungwa House to Kisumu.

The exercise was presided over by ODM deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo.

Omanyo called on all members of the party to turn up in large numbers for the Kisumu rally even as he dismissed existence of factions in the twenty-year old party.

“We want to warn those confusing people, this odm do not have any pther faction. We only have one ODM which Baba left,” Omanyo said.

“We are rejuvenated, we are moving to Kisumu. I want to urge everyone to come to Kisumu to get direction from the party leader.”

Party officials say the upcoming Kisumu gathering is a defining political moment for both ODM and the Luo community, with expectations that senior leaders will use the platform to chart the party’s future political direction ahead of the 2027 elections.

The mobilisation comes at a time when the Luo Council of Elders, led by Ker Odungi Randa, has called for reconciliation among ODM’s warring factions.

The elders warned that continued infighting within the Orange party risks weakening the community’s political influence at the national level and undermining ODM’s bargaining power in the evolving political landscape.

Speaking at Ofafa Hall in Kisumu, council chairman Odungi Randa expressed concern over growing divisions among senior politicians and youth groups, cautioning that continued infighting could erode the community’s political influence.

Randa said the community appeared to be drifting apart following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, with leaders increasingly aligning into political camps, engaging in public disagreements and online attacks instead of focusing on issues affecting residents.

“It is only a few months since we lost our ultimate and undisputed leader, yet instead of uniting, leaders are busy dismantling our unity and strength,” he said.

He stressed that the council’s concerns went beyond party politics and were centred on safeguarding the future and stability of the Luo community.

“We are tearing each other apart, weakening our unity and making our community a laughing stock because of our disjointedness. This must stop,” he said.

Randa cautioned leaders against allowing personal interests and succession politics to overshadow the collective good of the region.