ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya brokered truce between Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and Women Rep Elsie Muhanda.
The governor and Woman Rep have have not been seeing eye to eye.
The duo started engaging in a public spat last month after word went around that Ms Muhanda wanted to unseat Mr Barasa in 2027 as Kakamega governor on ODM party.
Mr Oparanya reconciled the leaders during a funeral service in Musanda, Mumias East constituency over the weekend.
"When Barasa and Muhanda are fighting, how will the two leaders then work for the people, it means the war will derail delivery of service to the people," he said.
The former governor distanced himself from allegations that he was interfering with the work of Barasa.
"I will be the most irresponsible father and a leader if I decide to fight my own people. Barasa and Muhanda should be keen with their allies who just want to reap from them by creating divisions between them," he said adding that the reconciliation of the governor and Woman Rep had the blessings of ODM party Leader Raila Odinga.
Governor Barasa thanked Oparanya for reconciling him and the Woman Rep and promised that they will work together and speak with one voice.
"I am committing today that we are making a new chapter in Kakamega county where i will work with Ms Muhanda and all leaders to take this county forward. Today, we have buried all of our differences, ready to serve our people," he said.
Muhanda accused critics of spreading lies that she was seeking the governor seat and promised to work with Barasa.
Recently the governor lost his cool during a recent meeting and told the Woman Rep to focus on empowering women by distributing umbrellas under the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
Things went south when Muhanda claimed that the governor was after her life.
"Barasa has sent his allies, who are youths to warn and threaten me against visiting areas perceived to be the governor's strongholds or face unknown consequences," she claimed.
The Woman Rep recorded a statement with the police over allegations that her life was in danger.
The political rivalry deepened during the Easter weekend when Barasa was purportedly elected as ODM party chairman with Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera as the secretary general at a meeting convened by Moffat Mandela, the Youth and Sports County Executive Committee Member (CECM).
"The party members have unanimously elected Governor Barasa as the party cChairman to steer the party agenda forward and make it stronger than it is today," said Mr Mandela.
"As you know, our governor is a life ODM member, and he is in the party to stay, however, he has also maintained that he will collaborate with the national government for the development of our people and not politics that is why members have felt that it is wise for them to elect him as party chairman," he added.
But Muhanda dismissed the new leadership, saying those who conducted the election were not mandated to do so as per the party constitution.
"What is happening is out of order, and it is getting leadership through a backdoor," she said.
"This is the hypocrisy of the highest order for Mandela, an appointee of the governor to purport to have powers to appoint Barasa as party chairman," she added.
However, ODM through the National Elections Board (NEB) chairperson Catherine Mumma, termed the election of Barasa as the party chairman in Kakamega illegal.
"As a party organ mandated to carry out elections within the party, including party officials, we wish to remind our party members, supporters and the general public that no election of replacement of officials will take place without the express approval of NEB," said Ms Mumma.
On the party leadership row, Oparanya said he will convene a meeting on Tuesday of all ODM elected MPs and MCAs to constitute a team to run ODM affairs in Kakamega.
He said he was not aware of any ODM grassroots elections as the process is guided by party rules.
