The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is a house on fire. The cracks within the orange party widened into a chasm this weekend as Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo publicly confronted Nairobi MCA Robert Alai in a heated exchange that threatened to turn the party's 20th-anniversary celebrations into a brawl.

The flashpoint? Winnie Odinga. The daughter of the late party patriarch Raila Odinga has become a lightning rod for criticism, with some leaders accusing her of entitlement. But Millie Odhiambo, the self-declared "Amollo" defender, was having none of it. Taking the microphone, she unleashed a verbal tirade against Alai, accusing him of misogyny and disrespecting the memory of Baba.

"Winnie is the Heart of Baba"

"You like harassing women, but where Millie is, we will deal with you head-on!" Odhiambo shouted, pointing a finger at the stunned MCA. "It is exactly one month since Winnie lost her dad. It is uncouth and uncultured to attack her."

The confrontation laid bare the power struggle consuming the party post-Raila. One faction, loyal to the Odinga family, insists on preserving the dynasty's influence. The other, emboldened by the vacuum, is demanding a meritocratic overhaul. Alai, who had earlier questioned Winnie’s political experience, represents the growing dissent.

• The Conflict: Loyalty to the Odinga family vs. New Guard ambition.
• The Quote: "I am a defender of women... Bring it on!" - Millie Odhiambo.
• The Context: ODM's fragile unity ahead of the 2027 polls.

A Party at the Crossroads

The drama in Mombasa is a microcosm of the party's existential crisis. Without the glue of Raila Odinga, the center is struggling to hold. Millie Odhiambo’s fierce defense of Winnie was not just about protecting a grieving daughter; it was a desperate attempt to protect the sanctity of the name that built the party.

As the shouting died down, the uncomfortable truth remained: ODM is fighting its biggest enemy, and that enemy is within.