February 2026A massive and charged crowd gathered today in Kitengela after a section of leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) opposed to the party’s proposed coalition with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) held a rally in open defiance of the party’s top leadership.
The rally, organized just hours after ODM announced the removal of Edwin Sifuna as the party’s Secretary General, drew thousands of supporters from across Kajiado County and neighboring regions.
The event quickly transformed into a show of strength by party members resisting what they termed a “broad-based government arrangement” with President William Ruto’s administration.Sifuna, who also serves as the Senator for Nairobi County, has been among the most vocal critics within ODM regarding any formal cooperation with UDA.
Speaking to the energized crowd, he maintained that ODM was founded as a reformist and opposition movement and should not “abandon its watchdog role.
”“We were elected to provide oversight, not to sanitize the failures of the current administration,” Sifuna declared to loud cheers.Also addressing the rally was Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, another outspoken ODM legislator who has consistently opposed any coalition talks with the ruling party. Owino accused unnamed senior figures within ODM of attempting to “dilute the party’s identity” under the guise of national unity.
“This party was built on the sweat and sacrifice of millions who believed in justice, accountability, and people-centered leadership,” Owino said. “We cannot betray that trust.”ODM, founded in 2005 and long led by opposition figure Raila Odinga, has been Kenya’s largest and most influential opposition party for nearly two decades.
The party played a central role in the Azimio la Umoja coalition during the 2022 General Election but has since faced internal debate over its future strategy following political realignments at the national level.The concept of a “broad-based government” emerged amid calls for political stability and bipartisan cooperation after periods of economic strain and public protests.
However, critics within ODM argue that entering into any structured agreement with UDA risks weakening democratic oversight and confusing the party’s support base.Political analysts note that Sifuna’s removal as Secretary General signals deepening divisions within ODM’s top ranks.
While party officials have framed the leadership changes as part of internal restructuring, today’s turnout in Kitengela suggests that a significant grassroots faction remains resistant to rapprochement with the ruling party.Observers also point out that Kajiado County has become an increasingly symbolic battleground for political mobilization, given its proximity to Nairobi and its rapidly growing population of young voters.
As the rally concluded, organizers vowed to hold similar meetings across the country to “protect the soul of ODM.” Whether the internal dissent will lead to a formal split or merely reshape negotiations within the party remains to be seen.For now, the scenes in Kitengela underline one reality:
the debate over ODM’s future direction is far from settled — and the party’s internal struggle could significantly shape Kenya’s political landscape in the months ahead.
