‘Stop Telling Lies!’ – ODM Responds To UDA Merger Claims
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)’s top leadership denied on Sunday that a merger with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party was in the works.
Speaking after a meeting in Vihiga County, ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi chastised UDA leaders for attempting to lure ODM members and promoting the concept of merging.
“We do not want any other party to bring propaganda to our members. We wish to inform the UDA Party that they have been welcomed to our region but they should have respect as well. They should stop telling lies as we know our party leader is Raila Odinga,” Osotsi stated.
“Some people have been walking around in Vihiga County saying that they will support UDA because even ODM has joined UDA.”
He continued: “I want to tell my friends at ANC (Amani National Congress) that if they have decided to merge with UDA they should do so peacefully without dragging ODM’s name in it.”
ODM Party convenes a meeting to be attended by over 10,000 delegates on February 28, 2024, barely three days after the AUC elections.
— Mambo Mseto X (@MamboMseto254) February 3, 2025
Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Ototsi says the meeting will outline the party’s roadmap for the 2027 General Election and clarify that it has no… pic.twitter.com/MrwNxroQEK
This attitude comes just a few weeks after Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC united with the UDA, substantially bolstering the Western region’s political environment.
For months since four key ODM leaders were recruited into President William Ruto’s broad-based Cabinet, Kenyans and allegedly some party leaders have been wondering where they stood; In the government or opposition.
Despite internal disagreements, a faction of the party, notably Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, has retained their oversight authority, frequently criticizing the Kenya Kwanza government.
Sifuna has even targeted former ODM Cabinet members like Treasury’s John Mbadi, Energy’s Opiyo Wandayi, Cooperative’s Wycliffe Oparanya, and Mining’s Ali Hassan Joho.
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During the conference in Vihiga, the leaders rallied around Sifuna, supporting his calls for the government to be held accountable for the nation’s difficulties.
“We will continue to back Senator Sifuna on the issues he raises on the government’s rot so that our government becomes responsible,” one of the leaders said.
The party leaders also stated that they would run a Presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections and had already begun a nationwide mass recruiting campaign to prepare for the elections.
If former party leader Raila Odinga wins the African Union Chairmanship later this month, the party would have a new flag bearer for the first time since its inception in 2005.
‘Stop Telling Lies!’ – ODM Responds To UDA Merger Claims
