By Eddah Waithaka
A bloc of senior ODM lawmakers has issued a stark warning that Kenya is on a dangerous path toward political violence and that their own party is crumbling from within, demanding urgent intervention from its leadership.
In a powerful statement signed by eight elected members of Parliament, including Rarieda’s Otiende Amollo and Suba North’s Millie Odhiambo, the group mourned the lasting void left by the late party leader Raila Odinga two months ago.
They declared the rising national rhetoric now threatens the country’s democratic foundations.
“We are deeply concerned with the emerging and escalating national rhetoric, degenerating into violence and intolerance,” the MPs stated, pointing to the recent physical attack on Lamu Woman Representative Muthoni Marubu in Murang’a and an alleged assault and death threat by Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai against Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
The lawmakers directly linked these incidents to the deadly violence that marred the recent Kasipul Constituency by-election, where two people died.
“Unless urgent action is taken to stem this emerging and unfortunate trend, 2027 will be rocked by untold violence,” they predicted.
Turning their critique inward, the legislators condemned a “spectacle of self-cannibalization” within ODM, which they called the country’s largest party.
They blamed the infighting on the absence of Raila Odinga’s “wisdom and iconic leadership,” which had previously restrained divisive rhetoric.
The statement specifically called on high-ranking party officials, including Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, to cease public attacks and return to internal dialogue. “We urge the party officials to desist from public verbal slurs and return to the table,” the MPs wrote.
They further pressed the current party leader, Dr. Oburu Odinga, to “move with speed” and convene the party’s organs to restore public confidence.
The MPs warned that “small parties are aggressively and strategically moving to occupy the spaces previously held by our beloved ODM party,” risking a member exodus.
The group proposed an immediate internal “spitting session” to air grievances and end the public “mud-fest,” stressing that the current intolerance betrays the democratic ideals upon which Raila Odinga built the party.
The bold move signals a significant internal revolt and mounting pressure on ODM’s top brass to restore order and focus, or risk fracturing ahead of the 2027 elections.
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