Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has launched a scathing attack on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) hierarchy, accusing its current officials of auctioning the party’s soul and betraying the ideological legacy of Raila Odinga.

In a blistering address that has reignited the political temperatures in Western Kenya, the UDA Secretary-General did not mince his words. He painted a picture of a party that has lost its moral compass, transforming from a champion of the "common mwananchi" into a vessel for self-aggrandizement. Malala’s outburst comes at a time when the political marriage between the opposition and the government is under intense scrutiny.

"Dining with the Oppressor"

Malala, known for his abrasive style, singled out key ODM officials who have recently taken up government dockets or warmed up to the Kenya Kwanza administration. "They wear the mask of Baba during the day, but at night, they are cutting deals that sell out the very people they claim to represent," Malala charged.

He argued that the values Raila Odinga stood for—liberation, equity, and social justice—are being eroded by a crop of leaders more interested in tenders and state privileges than in the cost of living crisis afflicting ordinary Kenyans. "You cannot claim to be a soldier of the struggle while your pockets are lined with the proceeds of complicity," he thundered.

The Western Kenya Battlefield

The timing of this attack is strategic. Kakamega and the wider Western region remain a critical battleground for the 2027 calculus. By positioning himself as the one calling out the "betrayal," Malala is attempting to:

• Undermine ODM's Dominance: chipping away at the party's cult-like following in the Mulembe nation.
• Appeal to the Disenchanted: Wooing voters who feel the "Handshake" politics have left them behind.

A Calculated Gambit

Critics, however, point to the irony of Malala—a key figure in the ruling UDA party—lecturing the opposition on integrity. To the keen observer, this is typical Kenyan political theater: a pot calling the kettle black. Yet, his message resonates with a segment of the population struggling with a fluctuating shilling and rising taxes.

As the political drums begin to beat louder ahead of the next cycle, Malala’s salvo is a reminder that in Kenyan politics, loyalty is fluid, and the "values" of the past are often just currency for the future. The question is, will the voters buy what he is selling?