The Orange Democratic Movement is facing a tectonic shift as the old guard executes a silent takeover, installing Oburu Oginga as party leader without a single ballot cast.

In the smoke-filled backrooms of Orange House, a new era has begun—not with a bang, but with a whisper. The ODM party, the behemoth of Kenyan opposition politics, has quietly moved to replace the legendary Raila Odinga with his elder brother, Dr. Oburu Oginga. The move, executed without the pomp of a National Delegates Convention (NDC), has ignited a firestorm of dissent that threatens to tear the party apart.

The "palace coup" has seen a sweeping reshuffle of the party's high command. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has ascended to the National Chairperson's seat, while a new triumvirate of Deputy Party Leaders—Simba Arati, Abdulswamad Nassir, and Godfrey Osotsi—has been anointed. It is a calculated consolidation of power, designed to secure the Odinga legacy, but it reeks of exclusion to the younger, restless generation within the party.

The Resistance Rises

Not everyone is bending the knee. A fiery faction led by Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and the late leader's daughter, Winnie Odinga, has drawn a line in the sand. "This is not a monarchy," they seem to say, insisting that only the NDC has the legal mandate to ratify such a monumental transition. Their opposition is not just procedural; it is a battle for the soul of the party.

"You cannot inherit leadership like a piece of land," argued a party insider aligned with the Sifuna camp. The tension is palpable, with fears that this internal war could derail the party's preparations for the 2027 General Election. The abrupt resignation of IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan only adds to the anxiety, signaling that the election drums are already beating.

The New Order

The reshuffle is extensive. Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho, once the crown princes, have been sidelined to make way for the new blood. The elevation of Otiende Amollo and Ariko Namoit as deputy chairpersons suggests a strategy to shore up regional bases. But the question remains: can Oburu, a man who has always preferred the shadows, command the loyalty of the masses like his charismatic brother did?

• The Leader: Dr. Oburu Oginga takes over as Party Leader.
• The Chair: Gladys Wanga becomes the new National Chairperson.
• The Conflict: The Sifuna-Winnie axis demands a democratic vote via NDC.

The Ghost of Raila

The spirit of Raila Odinga still looms large over the party. His ability to unite disparate factions is sorely missed. Oburu Oginga now faces the Herculean task of filling those giant shoes while fending off a mutiny from within. If he fails to quell the rebellion, the Orange party risks turning into a bitter, divided house.

As the newspapers fly off the stands this morning, the message is clear: the transition is messy, the stakes are existential, and the drama in ODM is just getting started.