Tensions have erupted within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after Siaya Governor James Orengo publicly rebuked a rival faction over controversial claims surrounding billions of shillings allegedly owed to the party.
Governor Orengo took issue with members of the so-called “Linda Ground” faction following assertions regarding Ksh12 billion reportedly due to ODM from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).
The dispute was triggered by remarks made by ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga during a high-profile three-day party retreat in Mombasa. Speaking at the gathering, Wanga acknowledged the existence of the multi-billion-shilling claim and confirmed that the party was actively pursuing payment from the state agency.
However, in a strongly worded statement released on Monday, May 4, 2026, Orengo appeared to distance himself from the faction’s narrative, insisting that the matter is firmly grounded in legal proceedings he personally initiated.
“It is a matter of public record that I filed the case on behalf of ODM to establish the exact amount owed,” Orengo stated. “The figure being cited today did not emerge arbitrarily—it is the direct outcome of a court process.”
Court battle at the centre of row
According to the veteran lawyer and former senator, the now widely cited Ksh12 billion figure stems directly from a judicial ruling in the case he spearheaded, aimed at compelling authorities to account for political party funding allocations.
Orengo’s remarks suggest a deepening internal rift within ODM, with competing factions appearing to jostle for credit—and control—over one of the party’s most significant financial claims in recent years.
While the Linda Ground faction has pushed for urgent settlement of the alleged debt, Orengo’s intervention underscores the legal complexities underpinning the issue and raises questions about how the matter is being framed within party ranks.
Growing cracks within ODM?
The public exchange is likely to fuel speculation of widening divisions within ODM as the party navigates both internal power dynamics and its broader political strategy ahead of future electoral contests.
Neither Wanga nor representatives of the Linda Ground faction had issued a direct response to Orengo’s statement by the time of publication, leaving the party facing mounting pressure to present a unified position on the contentious financial claim.
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