Sharp divisions have emerged within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) regarding the party’s focus and its continued representation in the grand coalition government, which has unveiled inherent splits within the party leadership.
Even though the interim party leader Senator Oburu Odinga and the ODM national chairperson, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, maintain that the party is firmly rooted in the broad-based government for the long run. The Deputy Leader Senator Godfrey Ootsotsi has chosen to differ, arguing that for the ODM party to find the joining to the government worthwhile, certain reforms need to be implemented.
At the core of this crisis is the list of 10 actions outlined in the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, which is the product of a political understanding between President William Ruto and the late ODM party leader, Raila Odinga.
According to this list, there is need to address critical challenges in the country, which include high living costs, unemployed youth, and gender inclusivity.
While speaking in Vihiga County, Senator Otsotsi criticized the leadership of the party, citing their complacency in forming an alliance with the government without calling for much-needed reform.
He stated that the continued presence of ODM in government should be based on the implementation of the proposals by NADCO, adding that failure to do so would betray the party’s ideals of reform.
“The party should not forget why it engaged in dialogue in the first place,” said Otsotsi while urging ODM party leaders to focus on the welfare of Kenyans as opposed to what suits them politically.
But on Saturday, an ODM party delegation led by Senator Oburu Odinga repeated the party’s commitment to the broad base government and pledged that the party would cooperate with Ruto.
The leaders also pledged their support to the President’s second term, saying that partnership, not confrontation, is the key to national stability and development.
An alliance of the ODM party with the broad-base government denied reports of factions within the party, with allegations leveled against members who sought to cause division in the party.
With the debate escalating, the future of ODM’s participation in the broad-based government now appears linked with the implementation of the 10-point agenda contained in the NADCO agreement as a trial that will likely determine the unity and political direction of the party in the next few months.
