NAIROBI, Kenya — Winnie Odinga, daughter of the late opposition leader Raila Odinga, has told senior members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) that no party member will be allowed to leave amid ongoing discussions over a potential coalition with President William Ruto’s UDA party.
Speaking to supporters in Kibra, Winnie likened the party to a bus once driven by her father, saying: “We were passengers in this bus, and Raila Odinga was the driver. One day, we woke up and found the driver had died. Now those who were seated ahead are pulling every card. They have pushed us aside. We are pleading with them to stop the bus (ODM).”
Her remarks were seen as a direct rebuke to party leaders perceived to be pushing for a rapid deal with UDA ahead of the 2027 elections.
“No one will leave this party,” she said, while delivering greetings from ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi MP Babu Owino, both of whom are against a deal with UDA.
Winnie also criticised claims by some party members that Raila had endorsed specific leaders’ positions, calling such statements disrespectful.
“Raila was not a sycophant. He never said he had left us anywhere. Those saying Baba had told them anything is lack of respect. They should calm down,” she added.
She further questioned the party’s performance in Kibra, a key ODM stronghold: “How come the people of Kibra don’t have water and electricity?”
Paying tribute to her father, she warned that Raila’S legacy cannot simply be copied.
“Baba was one in a million. You cannot copy-paste Baba,” she said.
Her comments come ahead of the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC), where the future direction of ODM and possible coalition agreements are expected to be debated.
“We, as the ODM people, must talk. The time has come… In the incoming ODM NDC, things will be tough,” she said.
