The gloves are off in the ODM succession battle as Winnie Odinga publicly rejects the “illegal” installation of Oburu Oginga, sparking a civil war in the Orange party.

The veneer of unity in the Orange Democratic Movement has shattered. In a bold and defiant stand, Winnie Odinga, the EALA MP and daughter of the party’s founder, has declared the quiet coronation of her uncle, Oburu Oginga, as null and void. “Oburu remains acting unless ratified by the NDC,” she fired, throwing the party into a constitutional crisis.

Her statement, broadcast to the nation, exposed the deep fissures running through the party’s hierarchy. It is a clash of generations and ideologies. On one side, the conservative old guard seeking stability through continuity; on the other, a youthful brigade demanding adherence to the rule of law and democratic processes.

The Letter of the Law

The controversy centers on a letter quietly sent to the Registrar of Political Parties, seeking to confirm the new officials without the approval of the National Delegates Convention. Winnie argues that this bypasses the party’s supreme organ and sets a dangerous precedent. “ODM is a party of democracy, not shortcuts,” she asserted.

Supported by Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and firebrand MP Babu Owino, Winnie is leading a resistance that the party elders did not anticipate. They accuse the new leadership of fearing a vote they might lose. The optics are damaging: a party that champions national democracy struggling to practice it internally.

A House Divided

The infighting comes at a perilous time. With the 2027 elections on the horizon, a divided ODM is a gift to the ruling coalition. The confusion over who is really in charge—Oburu the elder or the defiant Secretariat—creates a power vacuum that rivals are eager to exploit. The “Orange Drama” is no longer a whisper; it is a scream.

• The rebel: Winnie Odinga leads the charge against the boardroom coup.
• The Issue: Bypassing the NDC to install new officials.
• The Risk: Splintering the party ahead of the critical 2027 polls.

The Final Showdown

The standoff sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation. Will the elders back down and call an NDC, risking a chaotic floor fight? Or will they steamroll the opposition, risking a split? Oburu Oginga, thrust into the limelight, must now prove he has the political cunning to navigate this minefield.

For the ODM faithful, the message is worrying. The party that once moved as a disciplined army is now fighting itself. Unless a truce is called, the Orange revolution may well consume its own children.