Suba North MP and National Assembly Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo has reiterated that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is not formally part of the Kenya Kwanza government.
Speaking on NTV, Odhiambo clarified that while some ODM members are working with the government, this does not equate to the party being in government.
“It is a legal fact that ODM is not part of the government. We may be cooperating, but we are not in the government,” she stated.
Her remarks come amid ongoing debate over the broad-based government formed by President William Ruto in July 2024 following mass protests against a controversial tax bill. Several ODM leaders, including Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), John Mbadi (Treasury), and Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), were appointed to key Cabinet positions.
Despite this, Odhiambo insisted that ODM remains in opposition, maintaining its position within the Azimio la Umoja coalition. She emphasized that the party has no formal coalition agreement with the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance.
Party leader Raila Odinga has also echoed this sentiment, stating that ODM only “released” its members to serve in government but has not signed any working arrangement with President Ruto’s administration.
Odhiambo dismissed claims that the distinction was a matter of semantics, rejecting the “potato, potahto” analogy used by the interview panel.
“A potato, potahto situation would apply if I, as a member of ODM, spoke as if I was in UDA,” she argued.
