A member of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal challenging the elevation and endorsement of Winnie Odinga ahead of a crucial delegates’ convention.
The petitioner Evans Otieno Amuga, an ODM member has named ODM party,Winnie Odinga, Makadara MP George Aladwa, and the Registrar of Political Parties as respondents in the case .
The dispute arose from a meeting held on March 17, 2026, at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi, convened by Aladwa in his capacity as ODM Nairobi County Chairman.
During the said meeting, Winnie Odinga was “elevated” to the position of “Nairobi’s number-one party delegate” and endorsed for the powerful role of Deputy Party Leader.
However, Amuga argues that these actions were unconstitutional, irregular, and a direct affront to the party’s internal democratic processes.
In his complaint, the applicant acknowledges that Odinga, as a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly, is legitimately a delegate to the party’s National Delegates Conference.
However, he draws a sharp distinction between that role and what he describes as a “non-existent” and unlawfully created position of “lead delegate” for Nairobi County.
He contends that the ODM Party Constitution does not recognise such a position and that any attempt to create or assign it is null and void.
Further, he argues that the late Raila Odinga whose political legacy looms large over the party never held such a title, but rather served as Party Leader, a constitutionally defined role.
The complaint also takes issue with the endorsement of Winnie Odinga for Deputy Party Leader, arguing that this power lies exclusively with the National Delegates Conference, the party’s supreme organ.
According to Amuga, a county level meeting has no authority to pre-determine leadership outcomes or influence elections reserved for national delegates.
He further claims that the endorsement amounts to a pre-determined outcome ahead of the Special Delegates Convention scheduled for March 27, 2026, thereby undermining the principles of free and fair internal elections as required under both the ODM constitution and Kenyan law.
The complainant also raises concerns about what he terms a growing “dynastic precedent” within the party, warning that allowing leadership positions to appear inherited could erode internal democracy and set a dangerous political culture.
Amuga is now seeking a series of declarations and injunctions from the Tribunal, including orders to nullify both the alleged elevation and endorsement, bar ODM from granting Odinga any preferential treatment at the upcoming convention, and compel the party to strictly adhere to its constitution in conducting leadership elections.
He is also urging the Registrar of Political Parties to intervene and ensure ODM complies with statutory requirements on internal democracy.
