By Faith Anene
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) concluded its Western Kenya outreach on Sunday under the “Linda Ground” campaign amid visible internal divisions, after two parallel county delegates’ consultative meetings were held in Kakamega.
The meetings, held on the same day but at different venues, reflected the ongoing leadership wrangles within the party’s Kakamega branch.
One forum was convened by Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega town, while another, organised by Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, took place at Emabole Primary School in Butere Sub-County.
ODM party leader Dr Oburu Odinga attended both gatherings in an effort to acknowledge the rival factions and reinforce party unity. He first presided over the Emabole meeting before proceeding to the Golf Hotel forum later in the day.
The Kakamega divisions trace back to the county delegates’ elections held in September, 2025 which produced two competing outcomes. One faction elected Governor Barasa as county chairman at Makhokho High School, while another group endorsed Nabwera for the same position, leading to the emergence of the so-called G8 faction.
Oburu travelled between the meetings by helicopter, briefly stopping at former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya’s residence near the Golf Hotel before heading to Mabole. He was accompanied by ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga and several elected party leaders.
Addressing delegates at Mabole, Oburu acknowledged the existing rifts and pledged to work towards reconciliation.
“I have listened to all sides, and together with Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, we will address these issues to unite the party and strengthen it,” he said.
The G8 faction comprises Nabwera, Lurambi MP Titus Khamala, Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana, Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka, Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda and Oparanya.
The Barasa-aligned group includes Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe, Butere MP Tindi Mwale and Mumias West MP Johnston Naica. ODM currently holds ten parliamentary seats in Kakamega County.
Meanwhile, the party also held a delegates’ consultative forum in Malaba town, Busia County, on Saturday as part of the wider regional tour. Delegates endorsed resolutions adopted by the ODM Central Management Committee during its meeting in Kilifi last week.
The resolutions authorised the party leadership, under Oburu, to initiate structured talks with other political parties, beginning with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), ahead of the 2027 General Election.
However, ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi, both from the Western region, did not join the tour, citing unresolved internal differences within the party.