Siaya Governor James Orengo has intensified the growing leadership wrangles within the Orange Democratic Movement after accusing a section of party officials of aligning themselves with President William Ruto and effectively putting the party “up for sale.”
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive, the Siaya Governor claimed that members of the ODM “Linda Ground” faction have been making key party decisions with the approval and backing of President Ruto, deepening divisions within the opposition party.
Orengo, who is associated with the rival “Linda Mwananchi” faction, singled out ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga, Junet Mohamed, Simba Arati and Abdulswamad Nassir, accusing them of meeting with President Ruto to influence the party’s leadership direction following the death of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
“The willing sellers are a cabal of ODM officials,” Orengo said during the interview.
He alleged that the leaders held meetings involving President Ruto while decisions concerning the future of ODM were being made.
According to Orengo, the President has increasingly become involved in ODM affairs through meetings held at State House and private residences, including Kilgoris.
“President Ruto is the willing buyer. It is not a secret,” Orengo claimed, further alleging that the Head of State has been financing some ODM activities despite the party allegedly being owed billions in public funding.
The remarks come amid widening cracks inside ODM following Raila Odinga’s death, with rival factions now battling over the party’s future leadership and political direction ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Orengo also addressed his relationship with Oburu Oginga, dismissing claims of a personal feud and insisting the disagreement is purely about following the party constitution.
He argued that ODM failed to follow its internal rules after Raila’s death, saying one of the party’s deputy leaders should have automatically assumed interim leadership pending elections.
“But because we cannot have a vacuum, I am the de facto party leader of ODM,” Orengo declared.
The governor defended his decision to publicly position himself as the party’s acting leader, saying extraordinary circumstances required decisive leadership to prevent ODM from falling into confusion.
He claimed supporters at recent political rallies had urged him to take charge and restore the party’s founding ideals.
The internal disputes have exposed sharp divisions between ODM’s “Linda Mwananchi” faction, associated with leaders such as Edwin Sifuna and James Orengo; and the “Linda Ground” camp linked to Oburu Oginga and other senior party figures.
The tensions recently escalated after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal temporarily blocked attempts to remove Sifuna from his role as ODM Secretary-General, ruling that the process may have violated party procedures.
The tribunal’s intervention highlighted the growing legal and political battle over control of the party machinery.
Despite the infighting, ODM leaders are still attempting to reorganise the party ahead of the 2027 elections through strategy meetings focused on grassroots mobilisation, internal reforms, and possible coalition agreements with other opposition parties.
However, Orengo warned that the party risks losing its identity if it becomes too closely tied to President Ruto’s administration.
He urged ODM members to defend the party’s ideology and avoid what he described as transactional politics driven by power and influence.
The latest remarks are expected to further fuel tensions inside ODM as the battle over succession and party control continues to unfold.
