A major ideological rift has opened up within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). During a tense Central Management Committee meeting in Kilifi yesterday, Siaya Governor James Orengo emerged as the face of the resistance against formally entering a coalition agreement with President Ruto’s UDA party.

While top party officials, including National Chairman John Mbadi, are pushing for a "Government of National Unity" arrangement to solidify their cabinet positions, Orengo warned that such a move would be the death knell of the opposition. "We cannot cannibalize our own identity for the sake of a few flags," Orengo reportedly told the closed-door session.

The "Raila Absence" Factor

With Party Leader Raila Odinga increasingly focused on his African Union Commission bid, ODM is suffering an identity crisis. The "cooperation" faction argues that accessing state resources is the only way to survive until 2027. Orengo’s faction, however, insists that ODM must remain the "voice of the voiceless."

• The Legal Argument: Orengo, a senior counsel, argued that a formal coalition would legally bind ODM MPs to support government bills, effectively killing parliamentary oversight.
• The Grassroots Risk: The Governor warned that the party base in Nyanza and Western is confused. "If we wear yellow jerseys today, how do we ask them to wear orange tomorrow?" he posed.

A Split on the Horizon?

The Kilifi retreat ended without a consensus, signaling turbulent times ahead. If Orengo rallies enough MPs to his "principled" stand, ODM could face a split reminiscent of the Ford-Kenya breakup of the 1990s.