Amisi Unleashes on “UDA-Lite” MPs as ODM’s Internal Fault Lines Widen

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has escalated internal tensions within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), accusing a section of the party’s legislators of betraying Raila Odinga’s legacy by quietly aligning themselves with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

In remarks reported by People Daily, Amisi alleged that some opposition MPs have traded ideological clarity for proximity to power, choosing comfort over conviction. He charged that they had effectively “sold the struggle” in exchange for minor political favours — language that underscored the depth of anger within ODM’s rank and file.

“You Can’t Be Government and Opposition”

Without naming individuals, Amisi took aim at lawmakers who have publicly defended cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza administration under the banner of “development.”

“You cannot be in government and in opposition at the same time,” Amisi warned, arguing that such behaviour hollows out multiparty democracy and turns Parliament into a rubber stamp.

His comments reflect a growing unease inside Azimio la Umoja as discipline frays and the lure of state patronage proves difficult for some MPs to resist.

The Rise of “UDA-Lite”

Amisi’s intervention gives voice to a sentiment increasingly shared by opposition hardliners: that Kenya is witnessing the rise of a “UDA-lite opposition” — legislators elected on an ODM or Azimio ticket but operating functionally as allies of the government.

Supporters of cooperation argue that engagement delivers roads, schools, and resources to neglected constituencies. Critics counter that this logic normalises political defection without accountability, leaving voters without a meaningful opposition.

A Legacy at Stake

By framing the issue around Raila Odinga’s legacy, Amisi elevated the dispute beyond routine party disagreement. For him, the question is existential: whether ODM remains a movement rooted in resistance and reform, or morphs into a transactional outfit orbiting state power.

Political analysts note that Amisi’s remarks capture a wider struggle within ODM — between pragmatists seeking relevance through cooperation and purists determined to preserve opposition integrity.

An Opposition at a Crossroad

As Kenya edges closer to the 2027 election cycle, the pressure on ODM to clarify its posture will only intensify. Whether party leadership reins in the defectors or continues to tolerate ambiguity could determine if ODM remains a credible opposition force or gradually dissolves into a satellite of the ruling coalition.

For now, Amisi has drawn a clear line in the sand.

History, he warned, will remember who stood firm — and who chose snacks and tea over principle.