In a moment of unscripted television theatre that will be meme-d for years, Citizen TV host Jeff Koinange has perfectly encapsulated the crisis facing Kenya’s main opposition party. With a small knife and a single fruit, Koinange laid bare the crumbling unity of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on live television.

The scene on JKLive was simple yet devastating. Hosting two legislators from rival factions of the party—Migori Senator Eddy Oketch and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi—Koinange sliced an orange in half and offered a piece to each. The symbolism was as subtle as a sledgehammer: the Orange party is no longer whole. It has been sliced down the middle, and the juice is running out.

The Symbolic Slice

"Gentlemen, grab a half," Koinange quipped, presenting the severed fruit to his guests. The reactions were telling. Senator Oketch, a staunch loyalist to the party`s traditional base, recoiled, terming the act "sacrilegious." To him, the orange is not just a fruit; it is a sacred emblem of the democratic struggle. To cut it is to desecrate the movement.

On the other hand, Caroli Omondi, representing the faction that has warmed up to the ruling government, was more pragmatic but equally grim. "It still has some juice," he noted, to which Koinange retorted, "But it looks like the juice is drying up." This exchange was a perfect metaphor for a party that, since the death of its enigmatic leader Raila Odinga (in this narrative context or implying the post-Raila era transition), is struggling to define its soul.

Factions at War

The stunt highlighted the ideological chasm widening within ODM. On one side are the "Young Turks" and loyalists like Oketch and Edwin Sifuna, who believe in maintaining a hardline opposition stance. On the other are the "pragmatists" like Omondi, who argue for cooperation with the government of the day to secure development. The two camps are currently locked in a bitter struggle for control, with the 2027 General Election looming on the horizon.

• The Loyalist Camp: Pushing for "Linda Ground" rallies and consolidation of the traditional support base.
• The Rebel Camp: Advocating for a "Handshake" approach and accusing the old guard of losing touch with reality.
• The Result: A paralyzed giant, unsure of whether to fight or negotiate.

The Future of Orange

Koinange’s knife did more than just cut fruit; it punctured the illusion of unity. As the two leaders bickered over the party’s direction, it became clear that the center can no longer hold. The "orange" is indeed split. The question now is whether the seeds from this split will grow into two separate entities, or if the party can find a way to graft itself back together before it withers completely on the vine.