Africa-Press – Kenya. ODM Party Leader Oburu Odinga has declared that the Orange party will formally exit what he termed the “moribund” Azimio coalition, even as he urged party officials to respect and uphold official party positions.
On Wednesday morning, Oburu was categorical that ODM remains the dominant party in the coalition and cannot be sidelined in decision-making.
“There is nobody who can make a decision in Azimio without concurrence of ODM. You cannot purport to appoint a new leader of Azimio excluding ODM,” he said.
He added that Azimio effectively ceased to function when ODM withdrew, and that the party will soon complete the formal process of exiting the coalition.
“Azimio was dead when ODM left it. It is only a formality which we have not performed, and we are going to perform it very soon. We are going to exit that moribund organization called Azimio,” Oburu declared.
He was speaking in Mombasa during the official opening of the ODM National Executive Committee meeting at the PrideInn Hotel Mombasa.
Oburu said late Raila Odinga had positioned ODM within the Broad-Based Government arrangement, and that the party remains committed to working with its current partners, the ruling UDA, particularly in implementing the agreed 10-point agenda.
He emphasised that ODM is not in a hurry to commit to supporting a one-term or two-term presidency, saying the party is focused on strengthening itself in preparation for future political negotiations.
“We start with our current partners. If we don’t agree, we move on to other formations. And if there is no agreement, we go it alone as ODM,” he said.
At the same time, Oburu expressed disappointment with some party leaders whom he accused of contradicting official resolutions after internal meetings.
“It is not right for a party leader or a member of the executive to go out and say what was not agreed and claim it is a democratic right. Democracy does not mean chaos. Democracy must have discipline,” he said.
He reminded members that once resolutions are passed, the minority must abide by the majority decision, stressing that internal disagreements should be addressed within party structures.
This is believed to be directed to ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, who was once again conspicuously missing at the ODM National Executive Committee meeting in Mombasa.
The high-level meeting is being chaired Oburu.
Sifuna and the third Deputy Party Leader, Geoffrey Osotsi, have not attended the meeting.
Oburu arrived flanked by his deputies, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and Kisii Governor Simba Arati, alongside ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga.
Also present are Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris, and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, among other senior party officials.
The Mombasa meeting comes barely a month after the party’s Central Committee sat in Vipingo, Kilifi County, a session Sifuna also skipped, fuelling speculation about simmering tensions within the party’s top leadership.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the NEC could deliberate on Sifuna’s future in the party, amid his vocal opposition to ODM’s recent decision to collaborate with President William Ruto’s ruling UDA party.
ODM has, in recent weeks, appeared divided between factions aligned to Sifuna and those backing Oburu.
Although party officials insist the outfit remains united, the back-to-back high-level meetings have intensified scrutiny over its internal cohesion.
The NEC has now retreated into a closed-door session, with the media locked out of the deliberations. The meeting marks the start of an intensive four-day Coast region tour by the party’s top leadership.
After the NEC session, leaders are scheduled to meet Coast delegates in the afternoon. A heavy police presence is visible around the hotel as delegates stream in for the day’s engagements.
After today’s meetings, the leadership will embark on county-level visits across the region. On Thursday, the team is expected in Lamu in the morning, Witu at midday and Garsen in the afternoon.
Friday’s itinerary includes Magarini in the morning, Pwani University at midday, a stop likely to attract strong youth engagement, and Mariakani later in the afternoon.
The tour will conclude on Saturday with visits to Taveta in the morning, Voi at midday and a final rally in Ukunda in the afternoon.
