Deep political fissures have emerged within the top brass of the Orange Democratic Movement, as heavyweights spar publicly over the core legitimacy of an upcoming pivotal convention.

As the opposition outfit attempts to chart a definitive course in a post-Raila transition era, this fierce internal struggle matters intensely right now. It will ultimately determine who controls the formidable political machinery of one of East Africa's most historically significant parties heading into the 2027 general elections.

A High-Stakes Battle for Party Control

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino and the party's interim Secretary General, Catherine Omanyo, are currently locked in a bitter, highly public disagreement concerning the procedures for the eagerly anticipated National Delegates Conference (NDC), officially scheduled for March 27, 2026. Babu Owino, who has positioned himself as a vanguard of the 'Linda Mwananchi' faction, has audaciously challenged the power of the party's top organ to arbitrarily appoint Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga as the overarching ODM party leader.

Speaking passionately during a televised interview on a prominent local network, Babu laid out stringent, non-negotiable conditions for his faction's participation in the NDC. He unequivocally stated that he and his widespread base of supporters would only attend the critical conference if the participating delegates were rigorously and transparently audited beforehand. Furthermore, Babu insisted that the conference's legitimacy hinges entirely on it being officially convened by the embattled Secretary General, Edwin Sifuna, warning that any alternative convener would render the gathering inherently illegitimate.

Constitutional Counter-Arguments and Procedural Law

In a swift and calculated rebuttal, Busia County Woman Representative and interim SG Catherine Omanyo invoked the sacred text of the ODM Constitution to clarify the exact legal procedure for convening the NDC. In a comprehensive press statement, Omanyo vehemently defended the planned March 27 meeting, arguing that the party’s supreme legal document clearly outlines the issuance of notices and specific publication requirements that are currently being followed to the letter.

"The ODM Constitution is abundantly clear on how the NDC should be convened," Omanyo stated, attempting to quash the rising tide of dissent. She elaborated that while the notice should ideally be sent by the Secretary General, the Constitution explicitly allows for "any other party official specifically appointed for that purpose by the National Executive Committee" to execute the task, provided it is done at least twenty-one days prior to the event. Omanyo confirmed that these constitutional provisions are being strictly adhered to, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown in Nairobi later this March.

What the NDC Means for Kenya's Political Future

• Leadership Vacuum: The ongoing squabbles highlight the immense challenge of filling the towering void left by historical party stalwarts.
• Factional Warfare: The deep split between the Linda Mwananchi wing and the traditional party establishment threatens to permanently fracture the opposition voting bloc.
• 2027 Implications: Whoever successfully controls the NDC delegates will fundamentally dictate the party's presidential ticket and broader national coalition strategy.

"We will attend only if the delegates are properly audited; otherwise, the legitimacy is heavily questioned," Babu Owino declared, drawing a firm line in the shifting political sand.