Siaya County Governor James Orengo has warned that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) must not be seen as dependent on President William Ruto, saying the reverse is true.
Speaking at the ODM@20 celebrations in Mombasa on Friday, November 14, Orengo urged party members to stay focused on ODM’s values and resist outside pressures.
“I dare say this, Ruto needs ODM; it’s not ODM that needs Ruto,” Orengo declared.
“There are people in this party behaving as if ODM needs Ruto. I’m not afraid to say. I was very happy when Dr. Oburu said ODM will not be swallowed. I am equally happy with what Winnie Odinga has said.”
Earlier, Winnie Odinga dismissed rumors of internal divisions, comparing them to “kelele ya chura” (noises of a frog) that cannot stop the cow from drinking water, reinforcing the party’s unity.
Orengo drew lessons from liberation movements across Africa, pointing out that parties lose relevance when they abandon the people they were formed to serve.
“Liberation parties in Africa keep dying. When you go to Tanzania, CCM is no longer in power. Uganda the UPC is gone, in Zambia the liberation party is dead, because they forgot about the people,” he noted.
The Governor stressed that ODM’s commitment must always be to the people.
“ODM is a party for the people, by the people. ODM can never be the party of broad-based, inclusive, and for the interests of the broad-based. In law and in politics, there is no such thing,” he said, casting doubt on the logic of broad-based government alliances.
Orengo challenged members comfortable with the current political alignment to consider its consequences for the party’s future.
“So tell me, in 2027, you decide to support Ruto and make him president, where does that leave ODM? In 1963, we had many parties; they were told it’s not good to be in opposition and they all moved to KANU. We had to go to the streets to protest for multi-partism,” he remarked.
Paying tribute to the late Raila Odinga, Orengo said his legacy overshadows that of any Kenyan president.
“What Raila has left is more than what the other former presidents left. Raila is bigger than Kenyatta, Raila is bigger than Moi, Raila is bigger than Uhuru, and Raila is bigger than Ruto,” he asserted.
He criticized party members who, he said, lacked courage by sending mixed signals about ODM’s political future.
“I don’t know why some people here are being cowards. I have heard people in this party going around the country telling wananchi that ODM will either be in government or be part of the government. A strong party like ODM has to be sure of what we want,” he stated.
The remarks were delivered during ODM’s 20th anniversary celebrations at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa, the first major event since Raila Odinga’s death on October 15, 2025.
The three-day event brings together founding members and party loyalists. Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga has been officially endorsed as party leader, pending ratification by the National Delegates Convention.
The celebrations aim to honor ODM’s contributions to political reforms, devolution, and civil liberties, while laying out the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
