Speaking at a Pentecostal Assemblies of God church service in Dagoretti North on Sunday, January 25, 2026, Orengo heaped praise on ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, dubbing him the “Super Senator, Super secretary general” in a clear show of solidarity. The event drew a constellation of like-minded leaders, including Sifuna himself, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, all known for their sharp criticism of any deepening ties with President William Ruto’s administration.
Growing divisions within Kenya’s opposition
The public endorsement comes amid mounting speculation about ODM’s political trajectory. Since the broad-based government arrangement was struck, debates have raged over whether the party should formalize a coalition with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance or hold firm to its opposition roots.
Orengo’s intervention tilts the scales toward the latter camp, signaling that even stalwarts once seen as unquestioningly loyal to Odinga may now prioritize ideological purity over pragmatic alliances.
Warning against leadership changes
Orengo’s words carried extra weight given his decades-long role in ODM’s inner circle. A former minister, senator and now governor, he has rarely broken ranks so publicly. His warning that any attempt to oust Sifuna as secretary general “would be the end of ODM” reflected deep anxiety over potential purges or forced realignments as the party eyes the 2027 elections.
Internal power struggles intensify
Party insiders say the rift pits younger, more confrontational voices against those favoring cooperation with the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition for development gains and political stability. The church gathering, while framed as spiritual, doubled as a platform for the anti-Ruto group to project unity and resolve.
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