“They Acted in Silence”: Winnie Odinga Faults ODM Leadership Transition Over Secrecy and Constitutional Breaches

Winnie Odinga has strongly criticised the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over how it handled leadership changes following the death of party leader Raila Odinga, accusing senior figures of secrecy, exclusion, and ignoring party rules.

Speaking on Citizen TV’s The Explainer on Tuesday night, the EALA MP said ODM failed to address its members during a painful and sensitive period. Instead, she argued, a small inner circle quietly took charge. “The party has not fulfilled its mandate in an open manner,” Winnie said, adding that members were never formally informed about Raila’s death or the formation of a new leadership team.

Winnie questioned the process used to install Raila’s brother, Dr. Oburu Oginga, as acting party leader. However, she was quick to distance herself from personal motives. “The decision of procedure is not up to Winnie Odinga. It’s written in the ODM Constitution,” she said. According to her, the issue is about rules, not family or personal relationships.

She insisted that key party organs, including the National Executive Council and the Central Committee, lack authority to act without approval from the National Delegates Convention (NDC). As a result, she accused current office holders of misrepresenting themselves as legitimate leaders. In her view, this undermines both party unity and internal democracy.

Winnie also criticised the timing of recent political moves. She said convening a National Governing Council meeting and opening talks with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance during the mourning period was insensitive and unconstitutional. “They forced a celebration during a mourning period,” she said, arguing that such actions showed bad faith and disregard for dissenting voices.

Despite her criticism, Winnie praised Dr. Oburu’s role during the transition. She described him as a steady hand in a difficult moment and dismissed claims of a family power struggle. “What some may see as antagonism is actually protection,” she said, stressing that her goal is to safeguard both the party’s values and its leadership.

As divisions grow within ODM, Winnie and other younger leaders continue to push for an urgent NDC, arguing it is the only legitimate path to charting the party’s future ahead of the 2027 General Election.