The Orange Democratic Movement has in the recent past been torn apart by a bitter power struggle that has split the party into two sharply opposed factions; Linda Ground and Linda Mwanchi each led by Oburu Odinga and James Orengo respectively.
Linda Mwanchi faction has been accused of aligning themselves with the former deputy President and party leader of DCP Rigathi Gachagua.
The Linda Ground group is advocating for the ratification of existing interim officials. on the other hand, Linda Mwananchi is demanding full competitive elections, complete transparency on delegates, and an end to the party’s role in the broad-based government.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has declared that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will formally ‘expel’ release several of its top leaders during the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) scheduled for March 27, 2026.
Siaya Governor James Orengo, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi have been named as the targets of the move.
“On March 27, 2026, we, the ODM party, will officially release Orengo, Babu, Sifuna and Osotsi to their Gachagua,” Kaluma posted.
He went further, claiming the four leaders had secretly aligned themselves with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua long before the death of party founder Raila Odinga.
The statement comes as ODM grapples with growing factionalism. While all groups still claim affiliation with the party, they have taken openly conflicting positions on key political issues ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The upcoming NDC the party’s highest decision-making forum is expected to resolve leadership questions and set ODM’s strategic direction, including possible alliances with other political formations.
Kaluma’s comments highlight a clear ideological split. A faction led by Orengo, Owino and Sifuna has embraced the “Linda Mwananchi” narrative, which strongly opposes participation in the broad-based government arrangement.
On the other side, leaders aligned with Kaluma have backed deeper cooperation within the broad-based framework, popularly referred to as the “Linda Ground” position.
Despite the public rift, both camps insist they remain fully committed to ODM as a political home. Separately, Babu Owino has in recent weeks been pushing for the NDC to be held, describing it as the party’s supreme organ.
He has also openly signaled leadership ambitions with the slogan “baada ya Baba ni Babu” a clear indication of his interest in succeeding Raila Odinga.
ODM leader Oburu Odinga has confirmed that the March 27 conference will serve as a platform for the party to chart its future path and explore negotiations with like-minded political groups.
