A simmering political dispute within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has escalated into a public confrontation after East African Legislative Assembly member Winnie Odinga joined the growing exchange between Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and the family of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The disagreement, which initially emerged as internal advice on the future direction of the Orange Democratic Movement, has now transformed into a heated public fallout, exposing deep divisions within the party following Odinga’s death.
The controversy began during a three-day ODM strategic retreat held in Mombasa, where party members gathered to deliberate on the future leadership and stability of the political outfit.
During what was reportedly intended to be a closed-door session, Mr Mbadi warned party members against individuals he claimed were attempting to destabilize ODM for personal political gain.
According to the Treasury CS, the absence of the party’s long-serving leader had created room for some politicians to position themselves for control, risking the collapse of gains ODM had made over the last two decades.
Mr Mbadi further cautioned against attempts to personalize the party, insisting that ODM belonged to supporters across the country and not to any particular family or community.
“We need to be clear about how many soldiers are here. North Eastern has been supporting ODM, as we have two out of three governors supporting it. The party does not belong to one community,” Mbadi reportedly said during the meeting.
In remarks that appeared to target members of the Odinga family, the CS added that no individual should assume authority within the party because of family ties to its former leader.
“It does not belong to a family. We have a party where someone, because she is the sister of a party leader, thinks she can order us around. You cannot. Baba was a very solid leader,” he stated.
Although the discussion had been intended to remain internal, details of the meeting quickly leaked, triggering sharp reactions from ODM loyalists and members of the Odinga family.
Winnie Odinga later responded through a statement posted on Facebook, dismissing claims that she was aligned to rival camps within ODM.
She maintained that her focus remained on preserving unity within the party, which she described as part of her father’s long-term political vision.
The legislator accused Mr Mbadi of unfairly targeting her politically through comments suggesting that ODM was not a family property and that carrying the Odinga name should not grant anyone entitlement within the movement.
Her response has since intensified debate among ODM supporters, with different factions interpreting the dispute as a struggle over the future leadership and identity of the party after the death of its founding figure.
As criticism mounted, Mr Mbadi speaking today in Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County, moved to defend himself against accusations that he had disrespected the late Raila Odinga.
The CS insisted that throughout his political career, he had remained loyal to the former prime minister and had served him faithfully for many years.
“I started working with Raila when I was 20 years old. No one forced me to work with him. I served Raila diligently and that is why he chose to reward me,” Mbadi said.
The Treasury CS credited much of his political rise to Odinga’s mentorship and support.
Over the years, Mr Mbadi served in several senior government and party positions under ODM leadership, including assistant minister during the Grand Coalition Government, ODM national chairperson for a decade, National Assembly Minority Leader for five years and chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.
Mbadi also acknowledged that his current Cabinet position was made possible through the support he received from the former prime minister.
“He also made me a minister. If it were not for Raila today, I would not have been a minister. The respect between me and Baba is well documented. I still respect him even in death,” he added.
The ongoing exchange has continued to expose widening cracks within ODM as leaders battle over the party’s future direction in the post-Raila era, raising concerns among supporters about unity and succession within one of Kenya’s largest opposition-linked political movements.
