A fresh political rift has opened inside Kenya’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) after Matungu MP Peter Nabulindo publicly threatened to quit the party if it withdraws from its cooperation with President William Ruto’s administration.
Speaking to residents on Thursday, Mr Nabulindo said he supported the broad-based arrangement because, in his view, it reflected the late Raila Odinga’s final political position. “I am an ODM MP, but I decided to support the broad-based government because Raila himself gave such directions,” he told the crowd. “If those now leading ODM decide to break the ties, they will have to do it alone.”
His remarks highlight the widening internal divide within ODM following Mr Odinga’s death in October. The party has struggled to reconcile competing visions: one group favouring continued cooperation with the government, and another calling for a full return to opposition politics.
Mr Nabulindo also criticised colleagues who have hinted at reviving street protests, saying such tactics were unnecessary. “As the people of Western, we have decided that we will remain in the broad-based arrangement and there is no going back to the streets in the name of maandamano,” he said.
He defended the current administration’s performance, pointing to efforts in housing, water and electricity. He argued that abandoning the government now would undermine development gains. Should ODM shift towards open opposition ahead of the next election, he warned, “we will leave ODM for them and back Ruto’s administration.”
His comments come as senior ODM figures continue to challenge the party’s direction. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has repeatedly criticised the working relationship with the government, warning that the arrangement risks weakening the party.
Siaya Governor James Orengo has also voiced unease, questioning the credibility and long-term value of the memorandum of understanding between ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance, signed earlier this year.
The debate has exposed the core tension facing ODM in the post-Odinga era: whether to remain aligned with President Ruto or reposition itself as a sharper, more visible opposition force. For now, the party remains publicly united, but Mr Nabulindo’s warning signals the growing risk of political fragmentation.
