The deepening rift within ODM has paralyzed its grassroots machinery, with Party Leader Oburu Oginga snubbing critical rallies in the Coast region as the fallout from the Sifuna purge intensifies.

In a glaring sign of the dysfunction gripping the Orange party, planned rallies in Lamu and Tana River—intended to demonstrate unity and strength—have instead showcased disarray. Oburu Oginga’s conspicuous absence from these events has sent shockwaves through the party’s coastal support base, a region that has historically been an impregnable ODM fortress. The empty podiums were a stark visual representation of a party that has lost its direction.

A House Divided

The Coast region tours were meant to be a victory lap, a chance to galvanize support. Instead, they became a casualty of the war in Nairobi. Local leaders were left scrambling for explanations as the national leadership failed to materialize.

• Finger-Pointing: Behind the scenes, the blame game has reached fever pitch. Organizers accuse the national office of sabotage, while Nairobi insiders claim the ground was "hostile" following the Sifuna ouster.
• The Vacuum: The absence of leadership has created a power vacuum that rival parties are already moving to fill. The Coast, once taken for granted, is now in play.

The Ghost of Sifuna

Although physically absent, the ousted Secretary General Edwin Sifuna loomed large over the failed rallies. Chants demanding his reinstatement were reported in several pockets of the region, indicating that the NEC’s decision has not been accepted by the rank and file.

For Oburu Oginga, the no-show is a significant misstep. It reinforces the perception of a leader under siege, unable to command his troops or face his supporters during a crisis. As the chaos spreads from the boardroom to the rallies, the question is no longer who controls the party, but whether there will be a party left to control.