ODM warns members against singing Ruto's praises

Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has warned its members against overtly supporting President William Ruto's administration, signalling the party may not be too enthusiastic about a coalition with the President.

In a statement issued after the Central Management Committee met in Nairobi yesterday, the party gagged its members against speculating ODM's future, saying it was strengthening itself to win power in the 2027 general election.

"We call on all our members to remember that ODM remains a distinct political party in competition with all others to win power by democratic means. To this end, we must all be guarded in pronouncements about the future of the party and particularly refrain from beating the drums of our competitors," said Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the party's secretary general.

The warning comes amid a game of push and pull by ODM members, featuring those in support of the government and those against it. The party has often come out confused on its stand.

Raila and a section of his allies have insisted that ODM remains independent while others sing in Ruto's choir. On Thursday, Sifuna had said that it would be "foolish" for ODM not to field a presidential candidate in the next election. 

"Under the Political Party's Act, it is not allowed for members to be preaching the gospel of parties other than those on which they were elected," said Sifuna, who did not state if there would be sanctions for those who defied the directive. He, however, said ODM would keep the government in check.

READ: Ruto-ODM dalliance signals power shift

The meeting, chaired by Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, ODM's acting party leader, was the first of the year. Those who attended a press briefing soon after included Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi (deputy party leader), Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga (chairperson), National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed and Kisumu West Member of Parliament Rosa Buyu.

Junet has warmed up to the idea of a coalition between Ruto and Raila since last July, when they teamed up in their "broad-based" arrangement. The Head of State appointed five of Raila's allies into the Cabinet and supports the former premier's bid to replace Moussa Faki Mahamat as the African Union Commission chairperson.

Sifuna also criticised the delays in the recruitment of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel, urging the Judiciary to expedite a case challenging the constitution of the selection panel.

The party SG said the IEBC needed new commissioners soon so that they would settle in and plan for the next polls. He said ODM was disenfranchised by the absence of a functional electoral commission.

"ODM, as a party, is the most affected by this continued state of affairs. We are down three members in the National Assembly alone with pending elections in Ugunja, Magarini and one nominated member, all of which were held by ODM," he said, warning of a crisis over delays in reviewing boundaries. 

ODM will hold a parliamentary group meeting before Parliament resumes sittings next month to discuss priority agenda items.

ALSO READ: Will Raila Odinga's ODM stand with Ruto or back its own?

The Orange party's statement hints that it could be gearing up to challenge Ruto.

With a showdown expected in Parliament over an impasse over a revenue-sharing formula between the national and county governments, ODM has vowed to reject a reduction in county revenue.

"We want to assure our members and the public at large that ODM shall remain a force for good. We shall remain the foremost defender of democracy, with all its attendant freedoms and full participation of the people, transparency, good governance, justice, fairness and equity. These are the values upon which this party was founded and must remain our guiding star in all engagements with issues affecting our people," the Nairobi senator said.

Meanwhile, ODM plans to hold ward, constituency and county elections after six complaints resulting from last November's grassroots polls are heard and determined. Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, the party's deputy party leader, will lead the appeals committee that comprises Buyu and Abdisalan Ibrahim, ODM's organising secretary.

Some 41 appeals had been made to the party from the grassroots elections.