Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has defended a new initiative by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) aimed at stabilizing the party and preserving the political legacy of its late leader Raila Odinga, as internal divisions continue to deepen months after his death.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation on Thursday, Kaluma said the programme, known as “Linda Ground,” was designed to reinforce ODM’s structures, protect its traditional support bases, and ensure the party remains united and competitive in the evolving political landscape.
“We were saying that for you to retain Baba's legacy, the biggest of which was in ODM, ODM must remain strong…let us firm up our membership, our grip, our strength in all our bases as we, of course, advance to other places.”
Kaluma explained that the initiative focuses on strengthening internal systems while guarding against rival parties seeking to gain influence in ODM strongholds. According to him, the party must first secure its existing support before attempting to expand into new regions.
“We are saying Baba has passed on, yes, but we remain as a party. We remain as an institution in the governance of the country, we must be strong. We keep ODM strong. We continue having membership,” he said.
A key part of the plan involves a renewed membership drive, including registration and issuance of identification cards to members, aimed at improving accountability and ensuring accurate records within the party.
“Let our members remain our members as we recruit more members, let our strongholds remain our strongholds as we advance into other strongholds. Because you cannot say you are advancing when your original bases are shaky or being encroached on by competitors. That is what Linda Ground is about,” Kaluma added.
The MP acknowledged that some critics have likened the move to political zoning, but maintained that its intention is broader, focusing on strengthening ODM nationwide rather than dividing territories.
“Some people have said, Oh, zoning. That is what it means, zoning. Some may call it zoning, but what we mean is strengthening the party’s foundations nationwide,” he explained.
Kaluma also pointed to political strategies in the United States, where parties maintain loyal bases while working to grow their reach, saying ODM was adopting a similar approach to remain resilient.
He expressed confidence that the initiative is already yielding results, describing it as a unifying effort that will help the party honour Odinga’s legacy while positioning itself for future political contests.
The “Linda Ground” push comes at a time when ODM is grappling with a deep internal split that emerged following Odinga’s death in October 2025. The division has led to the formation of two rival factions with differing views on the party’s direction.
One faction, aligned with the initiative, is led by acting party leader Oburu Oginga and national chairperson Gladys Wanga, and supports working with President William Ruto and his United Democratic Alliance.
The opposing wing, known as “Linda Mwananchi,” is led by secretary-general Edwin Sifuna and has rejected cooperation with the government, instead calling for fresh leadership within the party.
Tensions between the two groups are expected to come to a head as both factions prepare to hold separate National Delegates Conferences in Nairobi on March 27, 2026, highlighting the depth of the ongoing leadership struggle within ODM.