ODM Leaders Tell Dissenting Colleagues to Quit Party and Join Opposition

A section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders in the broad-based government arrangement with the Kenya Kwanza administration have dared their colleagues dissatisfied by the deal to quit the party and join the opposition if they wished.

The MPs led by Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi who is also the chairman of the budget and appropriation committee in the national assembly and Garsen MP Ali Wario said this at Kipao village in Tana Delta Sub County, Tana River County during a fundraiser in aid of youth groups where they threatened to eject their rebel colleagues from the party for opposing the President William Ruto.

“Most of those ODM members making noise opposing the broad-based government in Nairobi were elected because Raila Odinga held their hands and they fear that after Raila’s death, they can’t be elected and we are warning them that they said if Ruto is supported by ODM they will leave the party, what are they waiting for yet we are supporting Ruto already,” said Atandi.

He added that they will be in the next government with Ruto under ODM and UDA pact and that their commitment was in writing unlike the handshake deal during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s term where ODM got a raw deal.

“We had a handshake with Uhuru Kenyatta and we got no development and we were lied to that Raila will be given the presidency in 2022 but they failed to deliver, but when Baba decided to work with Ruto, it was done in writing that is why I am the chair of the budget and appropriation committee and that is why we have to work with him,” he said.

Atandi urged residents of Tana River to stay in the ODM party and support Wario so that they can both be in government.

Wario on his part said that Raila left them in government and they will remain in ODM until 2027 and beyond.

“Baba left us in the broad-based government and going against his decision will be like a curse and we will continue supporting President Ruto,” he said.