Winnie Odinga Reasserts her Allegiance to ODM Leadership Under Oburu Odinga

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Winnie Odinga has publicly reaffirmed her steadfast loyalty to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leadership under Oburu Odinga, firmly rejecting claims that the party is grappling with internal fractures.

Addressing supporters on Saturday, December 13, in Gatanga, Murang’a County, Winnie underscored both her personal and political commitment to the current ODM leadership, leaving little doubt about where she stands amid growing speculation of discord.

“The party leader is my uncle. There is no day I will be in a faction he is not in. He is the head of my family, and I am always with him,” she said.

She emphasised that internal competition and divergent opinions are intrinsic to democratic politics and should not be misconstrued as evidence of disunity.

While acknowledging that disagreements are inevitable within any vibrant political organisation, the EALA MP maintained that such differences do not amount to the disintegration of ODM.

Winnie further asserted that the party remains cohesive and deeply anchored in the ideals espoused by its founder, the late Raila Odinga. She dismissed narratives suggesting the emergence of factions, noting that ODM continues to operate under a culture of collective leadership.

“The party will always have disagreements, but that doesn’t mean ODM is falling apart. Not everyone will think the same, and people are going to compete. Raila taught us what to do,” she added.

She also reiterated that ODM remains a formidable political force and will field candidates across all elective positions in the 2027 General Election. According to Winnie, competitiveness and nationwide presence are essential attributes of any serious political party seeking to attain power.

“The purpose of a political party is to capture power—all power. ODM must be competitive and present candidates everywhere. But that does not mean the party is divided,” she said.

Winnie took aim at individuals contemplating exiting ODM over internal disagreements, arguing that such moves reflect a departure from the principles instilled by the party’s founder.

Her remarks come amid sustained speculation that she and her uncle, Oburu Odinga, have been charting divergent political paths—particularly after Winnie appeared sympathetic to the anti–broad-based camp, while Oburu has been widely perceived as aligned with ODM’s pro–broad-based position.

Previously, Winnie had openly questioned Oburu’s suitability to lead the party following his installation as ODM leader after Raila Odinga’s passing. At the time, she argued that the party should revert to its membership to determine its leadership and called for a National Delegates Convention (NDC) to chart the party’s future direction.

Those earlier statements fuelled public conjecture about a possible rift within the Odinga family and the prospect of an internal power struggle.

In response, Oburu had indicated a preference for resolving the matter internally, noting that he intended to sit down with Winnie in a father-daughter-style discussion to seek common ground and a way forward.