NAIROBI, Kenya – A fresh political row has erupted over former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s influence in opposition politics, after Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina, an ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, came out strongly to defend him amid mounting criticism from pro-President William Ruto leaders within the ODM party.
In a social media post, Maina accused ODM chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga of dragging Uhuru into factional battles within the Orange Democratic Movement as she positions herself for higher office ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“By now, we all know that Gov. Gladys Wanga wants to be awarded the ‘token’ of Deputy President in 2027. It is within her political rights, but she should keep H.E Uhuru Kenyatta out of her crass mouth,” Maina said.
By now, we all know that Gov. Gladys Wanga wants to be awarded the ‘token’ of Deputy President in 2027, it is within her political rights, but she should keep H.E Uhuru Kenyatta out of her crass mouth.🎤
Her remarks come against the backdrop of growing tensions inside ODM following its broad-based political arrangement with President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a deal that has split opinion within the party and its support base.
On Sunday, speaking in Homa Bay in the presence of President Ruto, Wanga accused the former president of attempting to destabilise ODM by allegedly sponsoring “wheeler-dealers” within the party to sow confusion and weaken its leadership.
“We have respect for President Uhuru Kenyatta. However, if you want to destroy the ODM party by sending wheeler-dealers to us, then we reject your plans. We will not take that matter lightly,” Wanga warned.
ODM Minority Leader in the National Assembly Junet Mohamed has also echoed similar sentiments, claiming that unnamed individuals were working behind the scenes to cause internal divisions within the party.
The accusations point to deeper unease within ODM, which has been grappling with allegations of money politics and external interference since entering into a working relationship with the Ruto administration.
Some leaders have alleged that powerful figures are attempting to influence or “buy” control of the party.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, himself a senior ODM figure, recently claimed that some party insiders were plotting to “sell” ODM to Uhuru Kenyatta.
“There are some people who claim that our party leader wants to sell the party to Ruto, yet they are the ones meeting Uhuru to sell the party to him,” Mbadi said during President Ruto’s tour of Migori County.
Mbadi further suggested that Uhuru failed to fully back ODM leader Raila Odinga during the 2022 presidential election, despite their post-2018 handshake, an outcome that continues to fuel resentment within sections of the party.
The latest exchanges underscore the shifting alliances and intensifying power struggles shaping Kenya’s political landscape as early manoeuvring for the 2027 elections gathers pace.
