Odinga allies reveal dual strategy within ODM as questions linger over 2027 bid

Speaking to Citizen TV, Odinga’s former legal advisor Paul Mwangi and longtime spokesperson Dennis Onyango described a deliberate balancing act within the ODM party, involving both diplomatic engagement and a parallel hardline faction.

According to the two, a group within the party associated with more assertive political positions, including ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo, served as a contingency should cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration break down.

“Raila would not engage in anything without an exit strategy. If things did not work out, he would turn to the militant faction and rally them as a fallback,” Mwangi said.

Onyango echoed the sentiment, noting that key figures within the party were positioned to provide an alternative political path if the broad-based arrangement proved untenable.

“Yes, leaders like Orengo and Sifuna were part of that exit card in case the arrangement did not work,” he said.

The two insiders indicated that these parallel approaches were not accidental but part of a structured strategy, with different teams operating under distinct instructions to preserve Odinga’s political flexibility.

“These are two teams that operated with different job descriptions,” Mwangi explained.

“He would tell you something and not necessarily tell another person the same thing,” Onyango added, suggesting a compartmentalised approach to political management.

Mwangi and Onyango also weighed in on the emerging divisions within ODM, suggesting that a split within the party may be inevitable amid competing interests and strategies.

“They have to split. It may be better for them if that happens,” Mwangi said.

Onyango projected a possible realignment of factions, with different leaders aligning with separate camps within the party.

Despite their shared insights into Odinga’s political strategy, the two differed on whether the former Prime Minister had made a decision regarding a potential presidential run in 2027.

Onyango maintained that Odinga kept his options open.

“He kept it open,” he said.

Mwangi, however, indicated there were no clear signs that Odinga was preparing for another bid, pointing instead to ongoing coalition-building efforts.

“He had not shown any signs of running again. There are things like building coalitions that we would be doing,” Mwangi said.