East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Winnie Odinga has broken her silence on the ongoing turmoil within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

In a statement posted on her Facebook page, the EALA MP described the internal battles as an existential threat to the party’s founding principles rather than a mere contest for power. “Today, this fight in ODM is not about individual leaders; it is about the soul, virtues, and values of ODM,” the statement read in part.

The statement comes at a critical time for ODM, just days after the National Executive Committee (NEC) led by party leader Oburu Oginga, removed Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Secretary General on February 11, 2026, replacing him with Busia Woman Representative Catherine Omanyo.

Sifuna has rejected the ouster as irregular, vowing to remain in office, and was publicly backed by Winnie, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and others.

Winnie recounted personal memories of her father, the late Raila Odinga, highlighting his willingness to yield to the people’s will, even at great personal risk.“The biggest one to me was the swearing-in,” she wrote, referring to the dramatic self-swearing-in ceremony during the 2017 post-election crisis. “He did not want me to know where he was, but eventually I found him. He took me aside and told me that he would die that day and didn’t want me to see him being killed. He had trepidations; he did not want any more harm done to his people, but the people told him that they wanted his swearing-in. He accepted what the people were saying and went on that stage because he was prepared to die for his people.”

Winnie argued that true leadership in ODM requires understanding and sharing in the people’s sacrifices: “If you didn’t put your life on the line for the people when they risked their own lives, then you are not fit to speak on behalf of the people of ODM because you simply don’t understand their sacrifice. That sacrifice is a qualifier for leadership of this party.”

The EALA MP dismissed superficial displays of party loyalty, stating: “ODM and what Baba fought for is not a joke. It’s not a footnote in history. It is not paying people to wear party colors and chant. ODM is not that simple. ODM believes in its people. It believes in its members, and ODM listens to its people.”

Winnie’s sentiments come as rifts continue to widen in ODM four months after Raila Odinga’s death. Factions aligned with Sifuna and younger voices accuse the current leadership of deviating from Raila’s legacy, while the Oburu-led group maintains that the changes are procedural and necessary for the party’s future direction ahead of the 2027 elections.