A section of Luhya elders on Sunday met the ODM party leader to discuss escalating infighting inside the party. Sources familiar with the talks said the elders fear the growing split could hurt the community and weaken ODM’s future.
The meeting, convened by the Luhya Elders Forum, comes as ODM is battling sharp divisions over its cooperation framework with President William Ruto’s administration. It also follows the controversial removal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Secretary General.
Why the elders stepped in now
According to sources, the elders said they were unhappy with the decision to oust Sifuna. They argued that his opposition to ODM’s cooperation with Ruto reflected the political thinking associated with the late Raila Odinga.
“This meeting was arranged by the Luhya Elders Forum in order to find a solution to what they have seen as an escalating problem in ODM, which the elders fear is likely to affect our people and the future of the party,” a source privy to the deliberations said.
The elders reportedly told the party leader that, after reviewing public statements and publications, they believe Sifuna’s position aligns with ideals previously linked to Raila Odinga.
Dispute over ODM-UDA cooperation
Sources said the elders also questioned how the party has handled coalition discussions. They reportedly maintained that resolutions made during the Kilifi meeting did not bind ODM to a coalition arrangement with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Instead, they said those resolutions only opened space for broader talks with different political groupings.
They further argued that ODM has internal structures mandated to manage coalition engagements. In contrast, they questioned why Oburu and party chairperson Governor Gladys Wanga were spearheading the discussions.
They also said coalition issues should not be debated in public rallies. In their view, rallies are not suitable venues for detailed public participation.
Calls to shift from rallies to town halls
The elders reportedly urged the party to use town hall meetings instead. They argued that town halls would offer a structured and inclusive platform. Members, they said, would be able to question proposals in detail before any decision is made on coalition arrangements.
They also referenced a publication attributed to Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, which they believe clearly outlines ODM’s position on coalition talks. Sources said the elders presented a copy of the publication during the meeting.
Sifuna’s legal fight and the rule of law question
The intervention comes as Sifuna seeks legal redress at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal. A tribunal is a specialised legal body that handles disputes, in this case between political parties and their members. Sifuna has already secured a temporary reprieve pending the hearing and determination of his case challenging his removal.
Sources said the elders took issue with remarks attributed to the party leader suggesting that, while Sifuna may be Secretary General “of the court,” Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo is the party’s Secretary General.
“This is far from the truth. ODM stands for the rule of law; if the Tribunal reinstated Senator Sifuna in his position, ODM should comply and allow Senator Sifuna to perform his duties,” another source quoted the elders as saying.
They reportedly urged ODM to activate its internal mechanisms and, as a goodwill gesture, resolve the matter before the tribunal rules on the dispute.
NADCO and the 10-Point Agenda in focus
The meeting also touched on the NADCO report and the 10-Point Agenda, which formed the basis of cooperation talks between ODM and UDA.
According to sources, the elders warned that continued support for a government they believe is unwilling to honour agreements with ODM would amount to a betrayal of Raila Odinga’s legacy.
The elders’ message, sources said, was clear: de-escalate the infighting, respect party structures, and keep coalition debates out of political rallies to avoid deepening the ODM internal crisis.
