Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga has moved to silence speculations about a possible disagreement between her and ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga.
In a statement issued on Monday March 2, 2026, after meeting Kisumu Central Constituency ODM Party delegates and the executives at the sub-county offices in Kisumu, Ruth Odinga clarified that her call for unity within the party should not be interpreted as disrespect toward her elder brother.
According to the Kisumu Woman Rep, the Orange Party must figure out as a party the inclusion of youth voices in party affairs across the party leadership hierarchy. She further maintained that her stand has not changed, insisting on one strong united ODM Party.
“Dr. Oburu is the ODM Party Leader and everyone in ODM must respect that. I speak to him regularly as the Party Leader and as my elder brother over a variety of issues. But some people have created a notion that I am fighting him. I am an old woman. Where do I get the energy to fight Youth Leader?” Ruth said.
She added: “Those claiming I am fighting Dr. Oburu are the real enemies of ODM. I always speak my mind because ODM is a democratic party; it doesn’t mean I am fighting anyone.”
The Kisumu Woman MP, who is also ODM’s deputy Organizing Secretary, continued to push for the unification of “Linda Ground” and “Linda Mwananchi” camps, into one formidable force.
She reiterated that a united ODM would be better positioned to negotiate with other political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“My stand has not changed: I want one strong united ODM Party. We need to collapse ‘Linda Ground’ and ‘Linda Wananchi’ and whatever other faction out there into one formidable force; the requisite political muscle to engage in a structured negotiation with other parties ahead of elections next year,” she stated.
Orange Democratic Movement has since plunged into division, with a section of leaders led by Edwin Sifuna openly opposing negotiations with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance and the extension of the ODM–UDA MoU beyond March 7.
Speaking in an interview with K24, Sifuna insisted that the deal signed on March 7, 2025, did not contain any provision for extension and was intended to run for a fixed term ending March 7, 2026.
Sifuna maintained that only the original signatories could determine the fate of the agreement, noting that Raila Odinga intentionally crafted it without room for renewal.
“Anybody who wants to extend this MoU, I have said it before, you must go to Bondo and get Baba’s signature,” he said adding that “No other signature can be appended to extend this MoU because Baba, in his wisdom, did not ask for a provision for extension of the MoU. Why didn’t he insist that we must provide for extension?”
