Fresh cracks have emerged within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai launched a sharp public attack on senior party figure Oburu Odinga over his open endorsement of ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
The disagreement came into the spotlight after a screenshot circulated widely online showing Oburu lauding Sifuna as a “calm and principled voice” who, he said, reflects ODM’s democratic values.
In a statement dated January 7, 2026, Oburu sought to portray the party as unified, dismissing internal disagreements as part of a healthy democratic process.
“We remain one and united as the ODM party. Differences in opinion should not be mistaken for division,” Oburu said following a meeting with Sifuna.
Alai, however, strongly disagreed, accusing Oburu of being misinformed and warning that ODM risked imploding from within.
In his response, the MCA claimed that some party leaders had already made up their minds to exit, arguing that continued internal wrangling was steadily weakening the party.
“It appears our party leader is being misled by people like Sifuna. This path will only weaken and eventually destroy ODM,” Alai wrote.
The exchange has triggered intense debate among ODM supporters, exposing growing ideological and strategic divisions within the party ranks.
While Oburu’s remarks paint Sifuna as a unifying influence, Alai’s reaction reflects frustration and distrust among a segment of grassroots leaders.
Political observers note that the very public nature of the clash highlights ODM’s challenge of maintaining unity while upholding internal democracy.
As political realignments gather pace nationally, analysts warn that unresolved disputes within the party could continue to spill into the public arena, potentially testing ODM’s cohesion ahead of future political contests.
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