ODM Insists Raila Odinga Is Still Azimio Boss, Warns Leaders Undermining Him: "We'll Not Accept"

• ODM party chairperson Gladys Wanga accused Azimio la Umoja Kenya Coalition Party leaders of attempting to blackmail Raila Odinga
• Wanga said Raila's commitment to the opposition coalition should not be questioned based on ODM members being appointed to President William Ruto's Cabinet
• The ODM chairperson insisted that its members will continue holding leadership positions in Parliament

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has dismissed plans by Azimio la Umoja constituent parties to replace Raila Odinga as the leader of the opposition coalition.

ODM party addresses discomfort by Azimio leaders

In a press briefing on Monday, August 19, ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga criticised Azimio leaders questioning Raila's commitment to the opposition.

Wanga said it was in bad faith for Azimio leaders to hide behind the recent appointment of ODM officials to the Cabinet to undermine the former prime minister.

"The questioning of ODM and Raila Odinga's commitment to Opposition, our partners are not acting in good faith. They are hiding behind the four gentlemen and using it to try and wrestle the leadership of the houses of parliament from ODM," Wanga said.

According to Wanga, some Azimio leaders were attempting to arm-twist Raila into endorsing them ahead of the 2027 elections.

Why ODM will continue holding positions in Parliament

Wanga slammed some leaders, accusing them of failing to handle internal matters.

"We will not accept any continued attempts to use Raila Odinga as a human shield, any continued attempt to arm-twist him into endorsing anybody at this stage, or any continued attempt to use him as an excuse for the failure of leadership in individual constituent parties of Azimio," she added.

Wanga insisted that ODM will continue to play its opposition role and include heading key parliamentary committees.

The ODM chair insisted that the party would continue holding key minority leader positions in the Parliament, given its numerical strength.

"We find that unacceptable and we wish to reiterate the obvious, the House leadership is about numbers in the house and not those in government. As we speak, ODM has the highest number of MPs professing and committed to Azimio's ideals and principles," she stated.

Are Azimio leaders planning to expel Raila?

ODM statement comes a day after Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said Raila cannot continue being the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader

Kalonzo said Raila's recent deal with Ruto makes it untenable for him to continue leading the opposition.

The former vice president said the Azimio la Umoja governing council would meet to decide the minority leadership in Parliament.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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