Fresh political tensions have rocked the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) just months after the death of party leader Raila Odinga, with his son Raila Odinga Junior now stepping in to call for calm and respect.
Speaking at Jacaranda Grounds, Odinga Junior raised concern over emerging factional battles within the party, warning leaders against dragging the Odinga family into political disputes.
“People are talking about ODM and its factions. I know ODM belonged to Raila, and as his member of the family, I will speak,” he said, in remarks that pointed to growing unease within the party.
He singled out the timing of the wrangles, noting they were surfacing barely six months after Raila’s passing, and urged leaders to exercise restraint.
“We must be mature in our politics. It does not matter if you have leadership elsewhere; you have cars and everything. Respect is not weakness,” he added.
Odinga Junior also revealed he had directly spoken to senior figures, including his uncle Oburu Oginga, making it clear that members of the Odinga family expect to be treated with respect across political and public spaces.
His remarks come against the backdrop of a widening political exchange involving Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and East African Legislative Assembly MP Winnie Odinga, a development that has exposed deeper divisions within ODM.
Mbadi defended his political record and experience, pushing back against criticism and calling for respect toward senior leaders.
“I have been chairman of ODM for 10 years under Raila Odinga, Minority Leader for five years, and now I am serving as minister. These are not small achievements,” he said.
He dismissed critics, warning against what he termed as “juvenile politics,” and insisted that leadership demands experience and public mandate.
“Show respect to Oburu Oginga. You have no capacity to advise me on how to be Finance Minister,” Mbadi said.
On her part, Winnie Odinga took issue with how some government officials were handling public matters, singling out the National Treasury as an institution that should remain above political exchanges.
“The National Treasury is not a political office. It is where we safeguard the economy of this country,” she said, adding that the institution must be handled with seriousness and respect.
The unfolding exchange signals a critical moment for ODM, a party that has long revolved around Raila Odinga’s leadership and influence.
With the veteran politician now out of the picture, questions around succession, internal control and political direction are beginning to surface, exposing fault lines that had previously remained contained.
Odinga Junior’s intervention now places the spotlight on the family’s role in the party moving forward, even as leaders within ODM navigate a delicate transition period.
The developments are likely to shape the party’s future direction as the country gradually shifts focus toward the 2027 General Election.
