The ongoing rift within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) escalated dramatically on Friday as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna led his faction in a charged "People’s Delegates Convention" at Ufungamano House, directly challenging the rival Linda Ground group led by Oburu Oginga.
Despite an initial police barricade that blocked access to the venue in the morning, Sifuna’s camp successfully breached the security cordon to hold their parallel National Delegates Convention (NDC).
In a fiery address, Sifuna launched a scathing attack on the opposing faction, declaring, "Sisi hatuwezi kuungana na akina Kasongo, watu wauaji, wezi na wafisadi!" (We cannot unite with Kasongo and his group, people who are killers, thieves, and corrupt individuals).
The confrontation comes as the party remains divided following the death of longtime leader Raila Odinga.
The Linda Ground faction, holding their convention at the Jamhuri ASK Grounds, is backing a broad-based government and a pre-election pact with President William Ruto’s UDA party.
This meeting, marked by pomp and music, aimed to ratify decisions made by the National Executive Committee (NEC) regarding party leadership.
Sifuna’s camp, which includes leaders like Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, views the Linda Ground faction as betraying the party’s founding ideals.
The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal had earlier dismissed a case filed by Sifuna allowing the official party meeting to proceed, but the rebellion within the ranks remains unresolved.
The events of Friday underscore a significant political realignment, with both sides claiming to be the legitimate custodians of the ODM party’s future.
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