Omanga Says ODM Died with Raila, brands Oburu-led faction ‘pawa-seeking shell’

File image of Millicent Omanga

Millicent Omanga, the 2027 Nairobi Woman Representative aspirant, has launched a sharp critique of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), declaring that the party she once admired is now “dead.”

Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Saturday, March 28, 2026, Omanga claimed ODM lost its essence after the death of its founder, Raila Odinga.

“ODM is not the party we knew. It might have been when Baba was there, but he is no longer with us, so there is actually no ODM,” Omanga said.

She highlighted the deep divisions within the party, pointing to the two rival factions: the Oburu-led Linda Ground and the Linda Mwananchi group associated with embattled ODM Secretary General and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

Omanga dismissed the Oburu faction as driven by personal ambition rather than ideology, accusing its leaders of seeking political gain at the expense of the party’s founding principles.

She branded the faction a “shell” and contrasted it with her support for the Sifuna-led group.

“You can see there is ‘Sisi ni Sifuna,’ which I actually support, and then there’s another for some psychopaths whose agenda is clear—they are looking for pawaa. It is a shell, so there is actually no ODM,” she said.

Her comments come amid rising factional tensions in ODM following Raila Odinga’s death, as rival groups vie for control and influence ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The remarks also follow the ODM Special Delegates Convention (SDC) held on Friday, March 27, 2026, at Jamhuri Grounds, where Oburu Oginga was formally confirmed as the party leader. Delegates empowered him to initiate structured negotiations with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) on a possible pre-election coalition.

Oburu, the Siaya Senator, received the official party constitution and other instruments of power, cementing his authority to steer ODM through the politically critical period leading to 2027.

The delegates’ endorsement gives him the mandate to chart the party’s strategy and represent ODM in high-level engagements, signaling a significant shift in the party’s leadership and political approach.