Orengo Declares ODM ‘Dead’ After Sifuna Fallout as Ruto Deal Blamed for Party Crisis
Siaya Governor James Orengo has delivered a scathing assessment of ODM, declaring that the party “died” after its leadership began sidelining Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
The explosive remarks were made during the Linda Mwananchi rally at Posta Grounds in Bungoma on Sunday, July 26, as political tensions surrounding the Orange Democratic Movement continued to intensify following the death of its longtime leader, Raila Odinga.
Orengo told the crowd that ODM had lost its political identity after Sifuna, who previously served as the party’s secretary-general, became embroiled in a bitter dispute with the party leadership.
“Leo Kasongo hawezi lala, ODM ilikufa wakati walianza kuchezea Sifuna,” Orengo told the rally.
The remarks came moments after Sifuna asked ODM supporters to give him permission to seek a new political home, signalling a potentially dramatic break with the party that he helped lead.
“Wale mlikuwa mnaamini chama cha ODM tupeeni ruhusa tutafute chama kingine,” Sifuna told supporters.
The Nairobi senator maintained that he had honoured a promise made during Raila Odinga’s funeral not to destroy the political party built by his former boss.
Sifuna also recalled travelling to India to bring Raila’s body back to Kenya following his death, saying the experience reinforced his loyalty to the former Prime Minister.
“Nikisimama hapa Bungoma. I’m very proud because I kept my promise to my boss. Ni wao wamenifukuza mimi,” he said.
Sifuna accuses ODM leadership of abandoning Raila’s legacy
Sifuna has continued to challenge his removal as ODM secretary-general, with the dispute becoming one of the most visible signs of the party’s internal crisis.
The Registrar of Political Parties formally recognised his removal from the position on July 9, saying the process complied with the Political Parties Act and the ODM constitution. Sifuna has since challenged the decision before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.
At the Bungoma rally, Sifuna accused the current ODM leadership of abandoning the political direction associated with Raila and moving closer to President William Ruto’s administration.
He also argued that the party’s succession process should have involved Raila’s three deputies before changes were made to its leadership structure.
The dispute has placed ODM at the centre of an increasingly bitter political battle, with Sifuna now building support through the Linda Mwananchi movement as Kenya’s political class begins positioning itself for the 2027 General Election.
Orengo turns fire on Ruto over Raila agreement
Orengo also used the Bungoma rally to launch a fresh attack on President William Ruto, linking ODM’s troubles to what he described as the failure to honour agreements reached between Ruto and Raila.
“Raila alikuwa na mkataba na Ruto. Na hiyo akakiuka hizo mkataba,” Orengo said.
The Siaya governor questioned whether Ruto had fulfilled commitments he made during the political partnership with Raila.
He asked supporters whether the President had kept his word not to allow young people to be killed, whether he had protected Raila’s political party and whether the cost of living had fallen.
“Alisema hatavunja chama ya Raila, amevunja ama hajavunja? Alisema gharama ya maisha itashushwa iwe chini. Gharama ya maisha iko juu ama iko chini?” Orengo asked.
He went further, accusing Ruto of being untrustworthy and failing to deliver on his promises.
“Na huyo Ruto ni mnafiki number one. Ana sifa tatu; ni muongo na hawezi kutimiza ahadi,” Orengo said.
‘Dawa ya Ruto ni kumpeleka nyumbani’
Orengo also criticised Ruto over his previous political position on the 2010 Constitution, arguing that the President eventually relied on the same Constitution after winning the 2022 presidential election.
“Mimi simtambui,” Orengo declared.
He then turned to unemployment, asking young Kenyans whether they had benefited from the government’s promises on job creation.
“Na alisema vijana watapata kazi. Mmepata kazi kweli?” he asked.
Orengo urged voters to remove Ruto from office at the next election.
“Dawa ya Ruto ni kupeleka yeye nyumbani. Together we are going to win,” he declared.
ODM crisis threatens to reshape 2027 politics
The confrontation comes at a critical moment for Kenyan politics.
Raila’s death has triggered a major battle over ODM’s future, with Oburu Odinga taking over as party leader while Sifuna and his allies have increasingly positioned Linda Mwananchi as an alternative political vehicle.
Sifuna’s Western Kenya tour has further raised the political stakes, with rallies in Trans Nzoia and Bungoma drawing attention to his growing national ambitions ahead of the 2027 election.
The Bungoma showdown therefore carried significance beyond the immediate ODM dispute.
With Orengo declaring the party “dead”, Sifuna asking supporters to seek another political home and both leaders attacking Ruto, the political fallout from Raila’s succession crisis could now be entering a new and potentially decisive phase.
For ODM, the question is no longer simply who controls the party.
It is whether the movement built around Raila Odinga can survive the battle over his political legacy — or whether a new political force will emerge to take its place.
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