Otiende Amollo warns ODM division will derail pre‑election negotiations

Speaking in his constituency on Sunday, Otiende affirmed his loyalty to ODM but admitted that the party is increasingly split into rival camps.

One faction is determined to rally behind efforts to unseat President William Ruto, while another is openly supporting his re‑election bid.

Caught in the middle as ODM’s deputy chairman, Otiende warned that the infighting risks weakening the party’s bargaining power and urged members to embrace dialogue instead of confrontation.

He stressed that ODM must pursue “structured negotiations” before committing to any alliance, warning against unconditional support for the president.

The legislator warned against supporting Ruto blindly, adding that negotiations must be properly written and signed so that nobody is allowed to breach them. He pointed to the collapse of the Ruto–Gachagua partnership as a cautionary tale.

Otiende further rejected calls to expel dissenting voices, reminding members that ODM founder, the late Raila Odinga had always championed inclusivity.

The lawmaker emphasized that ODM has not yet agreed on which people should lead the talks or what issues should be prioritized, making the current wrangles premature and counterproductive.