Siaya Governor James Orengo has emerged as the new hardliner in the fractured ODM party, issuing a stark warning to those pushing for a coalition with President Ruto: "Baba never said yes."

Speaking at a charged church service in Kawangware, Orengo invoked the spirit of the late Raila Odinga to slap down the growing faction of ODM MPs warming up to the government. He insisted that the "broad-based" deal was conditional on the 10-point agenda, not a license to merge.

"Listen to His Voice"

"If you want to know what Raila Amollo Odinga said, listen to his voice, look at his writings," Orengo declared, dismissing the rumors of a secret pact. "He said the rights of Kenyans come first. He did not sign up for a coalition."

The Sifuna Red Line

Orengo also drew a red line around ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, who has been under fire for his combative stance against the government.

• The Threat: "If someone tries to remove Sifuna, that will be the end of ODM," Orengo warned, signaling that the party’s grassroots base is loyal to the SG.
• The Strategy: By defending Sifuna and rejecting the coalition, Orengo is positioning himself as the guardian of the party’s "soul" against those he views as sellouts.

As the 2027 realignment begins, Orengo’s message is clear: ODM must remain an opposition party, or it will cease to exist.