NAIROBI, Kenya — Just days after ODM leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto inked a political Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), cracks may already be forming within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
A recent report on Nation newspaper indicated that three prominent ODM legislators from Nairobi were conspicuously absent during the early stages of Ruto’s city-wide tour, signaling possible internal dissent over the newfound political partnership.
Missing in Action: Key ODM Leaders Skip Ruto’s Tour
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who also serves as ODM’s Secretary General, along with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Westlands MP Timothy Wanyonyi, were nowhere to be seen as Ruto launched his engagements in Kamukunji constituency.
Their absence raised eyebrows, particularly given their history of opposition to Ruto.
Sifuna has been one of the president’s most outspoken critics, while Owino and Wanyonyi have set their sights on Nairobi’s governorship—putting them at odds with current governor Johnson Sakaja, a Ruto ally.
When questioned about his absence, Sifuna offered a simple explanation: he was attending a parliamentary committee meeting.
Owino and Wanyonyi, however, remained silent on their whereabouts.
Unity Test: Three Raila Men Skip Ruto’s City Tour The absence of ODM lawmakers Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino, and Timothy Wanyonyi from Ruto’s Nairobi tour hints at internal party tensions. The tour, focused on development projects, highlights shifting political alliances ahead of…
Is the Sakaja Factor at Play?
The political intrigue deepens with speculation that Owino and Wanyonyi’s absence could be linked to Odinga’s ties with Sakaja.
Despite belonging to Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Sakaja has maintained a warm relationship with the ODM leader, and some believe he stands to benefit from the new Raila-Ruto alliance.
If this political handshake strengthens Sakaja’s position, it could complicate Owino and Wanyonyi’s ambitions to unseat him in the 2027 elections—possibly explaining their reluctance to align with the unfolding political realignment.
Ruto’s Nairobi Tour: A Shortened Engagement
Originally planned as a five-day city tour, Ruto’s visit was unexpectedly trimmed to three days—Monday, Thursday, and Friday.
While no official reason was given for the schedule change, the reduced timeframe has only fueled further speculation about the shifting political landscape.
With ODM lawmakers already showing signs of resistance, the question remains: Is the Raila-Ruto truce on shaky ground, or is this just the start of a larger political chess game?
