OPINION: ODM at a Crossroads — The Unravelling of Kenya’s Most Consequential Political
For nearly two decades, ODM’s dominance rested on three powerful pillars: Raila Odinga’s unrivalled authority, a largely united regional political elite, and a shared narrative of historical marginalisation. All three are now visibly weakening. - Kenya breaking news | Kenya n..
✨ Key Highlights
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing its most significant political shift in two decades, with its once unified voting bloc fracturing. The party's engagement in the broad-based government (BBG) has accelerated this fragmentation, exposing vulnerabilities in a movement historically reliant on Raila Odinga's personality and organizational discipline.
- ODM's dominance was built on Raila Odinga’s authority, a united regional elite, and a narrative of historical marginalization, all now weakening.
- The party's unity is dissolving, with leaders, including those from Nyanza, no longer acting in unison, which President William Ruto is poised to exploit.
- The unraveling of ODM could reshape the 2027 election by weakening the opposition and allowing the president to establish new patronage networks.
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Political Parties Face Internal Shifts and Calls for New Alliances - December 2025
Kenya's political landscape is seeing significant shifts, with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) facing a fracturing of its once unified voting bloc, a process accelerated by its engagement in the broad-based government (BBG). In the opposition, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya has publicly urged former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and the Jubilee Party to align with other opposition groups, warning against fracturing the fragile United Opposition ahead of the 2027 elections. On the government side, the ruling UDA party removed Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale as Senate Majority Whip. Following his ouster, Democracy Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa extended an invitation for Khalwale to join his party. Wamalwa claimed that Khalwale was being unfairly targeted by UDA for defending the Luhya community.
