A significant rift has emerged within Kenya's ODM Party, with a faction led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna declaring their intention to field a presidential candidate in 2027. This stance directly contradicts the camp of Oburu Oginga, which has pledged support for President William Ruto.

• The split centers on differing interpretations of the late party leader Raila Odinga's final wishes regarding ODM's future political strategy.
• Sifuna's team claims Raila Odinga desired ODM to present its own candidate, while Oburu's faction insists Raila endorsed a broad-based political arrangement.
• The disagreement deepened on Sunday, January 25, 2026, during public statements made in Nairobi.

A significant rift has emerged within Kenya's ODM Party, with one faction led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna vowing to field a presidential candidate in 2027. This stance directly contradicts another camp, associated with Oburu Oginga, which has pledged support for President William Ruto.

• The division is centered on the interpretation of the late party leader Raila Odinga's final wishes regarding the party's future political direction.
• Sifuna's team claims Odinga wanted ODM to present its own candidate for the presidency.
• Oburu's faction maintains that Odinga left them in a broad-based arrangement requiring them to support the current president.

Oburu Oginga, leader of the ODM party, led a delegation to Kisii County to consolidate support and address internal dissent, reaffirming the party's commitment to remaining part of a broad-based government alongside the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

• Oburu Oginga dismissed a faction led by Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and criticized Siaya Governor James Orengo for allegedly undermining his position.
• The meeting at Sameta Grounds on Sunday afternoon focused on negotiations with President William Ruto concerning Raila Odinga's 10-point agenda and the Nadco Report.
• Speakers, including Deputy Leader Simba Arati and Chairperson Gladys Wanga, emphasized ODM's transition from an opposition party to a governing partner, extending beyond 2027, and endorsed Simba Arati to accompany Oburu to negotiations.