A section of elders from Vihiga County led by former Makadara MP Fred Omido have instructed members and delegates of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party from the Western Region to boycott the Oburu Oginga’s led National Delegates Conference scheduled for Friday March 27, 2026.
Speaking to the press at Majengo , former Makadara MP Fred Omido said that he had convened a meeting with other elders from Vihiga County together with the Chairman of ODM Vihiga County Zebedee Osabwa, to deliberate on the state of politics in the country and in ODM.
He added that being founder members of the party, they had witnessed with much concern the conflicts arising within the party.
“We have discussed matters concerning the party, where we have seen meetings being called without following of proper rules and guidelines set for the same as well as party members been elected into positions within the party devoid of the constitution and laws that govern ODM,” said Omido.
Omido further claimed that the Oburu led National Delegates Conference is not the legitimate meeting and that all delegates from Western Region that will attend the meeting would be labelled as traitors.
He reiterated that the meeting that would be convened by the Senator for Nairobi Edwin Sifuna and senator for Vihiga Godfrey Osotsi’s faction is the legitimate one and urged all delegates to attend the said meeting instead.
“We have also talked on the state of politics in the country and we urge everyone to support the Sifuna, Ososti and Amisi led faction to make sure that the country as well as the party remains strong and steadfast, as we also urge the youth to embrace Siaya County Governor James Orengo as he is engaged with the Sifuna group,”added Omido.
Youth from ODM Vihiga County, Victor Kadambi said that they were in solidarity with their leaders, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi and promised to boycott the Oburu led Friday’s NDC citing it as unstructured, lacking transparency and not meeting the expectations of members and other stakeholders.
“We will utilize the day to go around convincing residents to register as voters in the ‘Niko Kadi’ initiative as voting is very important in the coming elections for it is our voice,” remarked Kadambi.
Chairman of the Tiriki Elders, Javan Oscar Bulemi said that he was saddened by the present state of ODM as a party, seeing it being taken whole by a small party like United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and that ODM should have been the one to engage with UDA and not the other way round.
“The late Raila Odinga, said that come 2027 ODM would seek its way forward but he did not suggest that the party should be taken whole by a small party like UDA and therefore I would like to urge those in charge of the party not to go against Raila’s wishes,” cautioned Bulemi.
He said that anyone who would attend the Oburu’s NDC would be going against Raila’s words and such actions would be considered betrayal.
On the recent issue of leaders exchanging insults in public, Omido said that he condemned the act and urged the leaders to weigh their words before speaking and not to utter words recklessly and carelessly.
Omido concluded by saying that they were standing by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna not because he was a Luhya but because he represented the views and opinions of many people in the country.
By Yvonne Misango
