Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has urged politicians within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to respect the party leadership and take Oburu Odinga as a great unifier.
The Governor’s statement came after a confrontation in Shinyalu, Kakamega County, between a group of Members of Parliament and Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya.
During the confrontation, the MPs, reportedly aligned with the G8 faction, and CS Oparanya allegedly accused Oburu Odinga of being politically influenced by money.Governor Barasa said that such statements only damage the party’s unity.
He called on ODM leaders to maintain respect for the party leadership and highlighted Oburu Odinga’s role as the glue that keeps the party together.”The statement made are at odds with our common objectives and in fact, they pose a threat to the unity which has been one of the main strength of ODM, ” he added. Barasa noted the need for the party to be united especially when gearing up for the next elections.
This latest scuffle is just one among many internal battles within ODM which indicate a rift between different factions in the party as we near the 2027 general elections.
