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Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has criticised his ODM party colleagues for their enthusiastic embrace of KANU Chairman Gideon Moi's decision to work with President William Ruto, cautioning that the move risks undermining the party's long-standing legacy and confusing its grassroots supporters.
Nairobi, Kenya – Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi has publicly chastised his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) colleagues following KANU Chairman Gideon Moi's recent alignment with President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration. Amisi warned that the ODM party's perceived close association with the ruling coalition could severely damage its legacy and ideological standing among Kenyans.
In a post on his X account on Friday, October 10, 2025, Amisi accused some ODM figures of acting like a 'broad-based choir' and labelled them 'tenderpreneurs,' suggesting their excitement over the new arrangement was detrimental to the party's credibility.
The ODM party, led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has been navigating internal tensions related to its partnership with the Kenya Kwanza government since a broad-based government arrangement in 2024. This arrangement saw some of Odinga's allies nominated to the Cabinet, sparking unease within the party. While some members view the partnership as a stabilising move, others believe it is a strategic misstep that could jeopardise ODM's ambitions for the 2027 General Election.
Amisi has been a vocal critic of ODM's dalliance with the Kenya Kwanza regime, previously threatening to quit the party if the cooperation continued beyond March 2026. He has consistently argued that ODM's historical role is to hold power accountable, not to merge interests with it.
President William Ruto and KANU Chairman Gideon Moi announced their agreement to work together on Friday, October 10, 2025, during a meeting with grassroots leaders in Kabarak, Nakuru County. This development signifies a significant political realignment, particularly in the Rift Valley region, where the Ruto-Moi rivalry has been a long-standing feature of the political landscape. Moi's decision to align with Ruto also followed his withdrawal from the upcoming Baringo senatorial by-election.
Amisi's sentiments are not isolated. Other ODM leaders, including Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, have also expressed concerns about the ODM-Kenya Kwanza Memorandum of Understanding, terming it a setback for the party. Suba South MP Caroli Omondi has also observed that ODM has lost its influence since joining the broad-based government arrangement, noting that many members disapprove of the arrangement. There is a clear division within the party, with some supporters agreeing with the broad-based government and others not, leading to confusion.
The continued association with the ruling party could undermine ODM's credibility as an opposition party, especially if its leader, Raila Odinga, secures the African Union Commission chairmanship, potentially creating a leadership vacuum. Amisi has warned that the party risks fading into irrelevance, similar to KANU after former President Daniel Moi left power, if it fails to reconnect with its grassroots base.
Despite the cooperation, ODM leader Raila Odinga has previously reaffirmed that ODM is not formally part of the Kenya Kwanza government, stating their engagement is based solely on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with President Ruto for national unity and constitutional reforms. However, the perceived 'broad-based government' arrangement continues to generate debate and internal dissent within ODM.
The political landscape is expected to remain dynamic as the 2027 General Election approaches. Observers will be keenly watching how ODM manages its internal divisions and whether it will heed calls from members like Amisi to re-evaluate its strategy. The impact of Gideon Moi's alignment with President Ruto on regional politics, particularly in the Rift Valley, will also be a key area of focus. The upcoming by-elections are seen as a litmus test for the strength of both the ruling coalition and the opposition.
