NAIROBI, Kenya- The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has accused the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of attempting a hostile takeover of its grassroots structures in parts of Western Kenya, claims that highlight growing political tensions and internal divisions within Kenya’s main opposition party.
In a statement issued on Thursday, ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi alleged that UDA officials have been engaging ODM legislators and grassroots leaders, especially in Vihiga and Kakamega counties, under the guise of political cooperation.
He said some ODM members were invited to what he described as UDA electoral and strategy meetings, including a gathering at a hotel in Kakamega on January 6.
“From the foregoing, it is clear that forces from within and without the ODM Party are hell-bent on escalating splits within our party despite the concerted efforts by the party hierarchy to find homegrown solutions to its challenges without undue external influence by opportunistic forces,” he said.
Statement by DPL Sen. Godfrey Osotsi on the state of the party in Western
Osotsi said that the outreach went beyond mere engagement, asserting that UDA was attempting to draw ODM members into its grassroots structures and had taken steps to form a regional presidential caucus composed of ODM members, a move he described as a violation of both the Political Parties Act and the ODM constitution.
“We are being approached to facilitate and participate in the upcoming UDA grassroots elections under the false pretext that UDA and ODM are in a political cooperation agreement,” Osotsi said.
“This conduct by UDA amounts to a hostile takeover of ODM.”
He further accused UDA of employing intimidation tactics, including threats of violence and expulsion against ODM officials who resisted such overtures.
Osotsi stressed that there is no legally binding cooperation agreement between the two parties at the grassroots level, pointing out that the only formal understanding remains the 10-point reform agenda signed by former ODM leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto in March 2025—an agenda that does not equate to a political pact or party merger.
The accusations come amid growing internal wrangles within ODM, particularly after the death of Raila Odinga in October 2025, which has left a leadership vacuum and stirred debates over the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general election.
Analysts have observed that rival parties, including UDA and others like DAP-K, are seeking to capitalise on internal dissension and court grassroots supporters previously loyal to ODM.
In recent weeks, some ODM elected officials have publicly warned that aggressive outreach by rival parties could erode the party’s base if unity is not restored, while others within ODM have debated the party’s broader alignment with UDA under the existing broad-based government arrangement.
Osotsi called on ODM members to resist overtures that he said threaten the party’s integrity, asserting that many grassroots officials in the Western region have since reaffirmed their loyalty to ODM.
