NAIROBI, Kenya - In a definitive statement clarifying the Orange Democratic Movement's (ODM) current political posture, acting party leader Dr. Oburu Odinga has declared that Cabinet Secretaries John Mbadi (National Treasury) and Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) no longer serve as spokespersons for the party. Speaking on Sunday, 2 November 2025, during an interview with NTV, Odinga stated that their roles within President William Ruto's cabinet inherently align them with the Kenya Kwanza administration's agenda.

“Those of us who are in government like John Mbadi and Opiyo Wandayi, those ones are part of the administration. They are not speaking for our party, the president is their boss,” Odinga asserted. He further explained that by accepting the cabinet appointments, the two senior politicians had effectively resigned from their active leadership roles within ODM to serve the government of the day.

The declaration comes months after President Ruto, in a significant political realignment in July and August 2024, nominated several high-ranking ODM members to his cabinet to form a broad-based government. This move was aimed at stabilizing the country following a period of intense anti-government protests. The appointments included John Mbadi, then ODM National Chairman, as Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, and Opiyo Wandayi, who resigned as the National Assembly Minority Leader, to head the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.

A Party Navigating a New Political Reality

Odinga's comments aim to quell growing speculation and internal disquiet about ODM's direction following the death of its long-serving leader, Raila Odinga, and its subsequent cooperation with the Ruto administration. He insisted that the party's position remains clear and intact, dismissing claims of confusion ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“Those who are saying we don't have a clear position — we have it," Odinga stated, clarifying that ODM's engagement with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is based on a specific, shared 10-point agenda. "But for now, we are staying in this broad-based arrangement which we have with UDA... We have not moved out of that and have not said anything more than that,” he emphasized.

This cooperation has been framed by the party leadership as a pragmatic decision to ensure national stability, a sentiment Odinga attributed to the late Raila Odinga's final wishes. “Raila saw that the demonstrations were pushing the country towards instability. He told us joining hands with Ruto was the only way to avert chaos,” Oburu recalled.

Implications for Opposition and Governance

The appointment of senior opposition figures to the cabinet has fundamentally altered Kenya's political landscape, blurring the lines between government and opposition. Opiyo Wandayi's move from Leader of the Minority in the National Assembly to a cabinet post necessitated a leadership change in the opposition's parliamentary ranks, with Suna East MP Junet Mohamed taking over the crucial oversight role.

This dynamic presents a unique challenge for democratic accountability. With key opposition voices now part of the executive, questions arise about the strength and independence of parliamentary oversight. However, Dr. Odinga's statement seeks to draw a clear line: while individual members serve the state, the ODM party as an institution retains its distinct political identity and will make decisions on future coalitions when the time is right.

In his remarks, Odinga also offered a robust defence of ODM's Secretary-General, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, whose public statements have faced criticism from some quarters. Odinga affirmed that Sifuna speaks for the party. “When Sifuna says what he says, he is within his right and that is the correct position of the party. He is not isolated,” he concluded, dismissing calls for Sifuna's removal and urging for party unity.

As of Tuesday, 4 November 2025, neither CS Mbadi nor CS Wandayi had issued a public response to Dr. Odinga's clarification. Their transition from leading opposition figures to implementing government policy remains a focal point of Kenya's evolving political narrative.