Speaking during a public event in Likoni on Christmas Day, Nassir said some ODM leaders were openly defying party decisions despite holding influential positions.
He warned that such behavior could weaken the party at a critical time as the 2027 General Election approaches.
According to Nassir, ODM belongs to its members and not individual leaders, adding that anyone entrusted with leadership must protect the party’s unity and national interests.
“We will not allow anyone to destroy this party from the inside. ODM belongs to the people, and leaders have a responsibility to defend it and to act honestly,” Nassir said.
He stressed that leaders with opposing views should raise them openly instead of secretly working against party resolutions.
Nassir added that leadership requires courage and accountability, not hidden agendas.
The Mombasa governor also addressed speculation surrounding the party’s future following the political changes around ODM’s long-time leadership.
He dismissed claims that the party is destined to remain in opposition, saying ODM still has a strong chance of either forming the next government or being part of it after 2027.
Nassir further took a swipe at opposition figures who are now seeking ODM’s support, noting that the same leaders rejected ODM during the 2022 elections because the party was not in government at the time.
His remarks come amid growing internal divisions within the party, with leaders openly accusing one another of plotting behind the scenes.
Earlier this week, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohammed alleged that some senior ODM figures were attempting to secretly negotiate with opposition leaders while publicly opposing the party’s cooperation with the government.
Junet specifically named Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Siaya Governor James Orengo, claiming they were working to undermine the broad-based political arrangement between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
He alleged that the leaders were hoping to align ODM with former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s camp, promising party funding and future political rewards if the alliance succeeded.
“These are the same people making the loudest noise. They want the broad-based government to fail so that ODM can run back to Wamunyoro,” Junet claimed.
The party’s internal troubles have also spilled into the youth wing. ODM Youth League member Kasmuel McOure recently threatened to push for the removal of Edwin Sifuna as Secretary General.
He accused Sifuna of disrespecting ODM Party Leader Oburu Odinga during a political event in Western Kenya.
These developments have exposed deep divisions within ODM, with two clear factions now emerging.
One group, associated with leaders like Gladys Wanga, supports continued cooperation with President William Ruto’s government and has even hinted at backing his re-election bid in 2027.
The opposing faction, which includes Sifuna, Orengo, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, has strongly criticized the party’s closeness to the government.
They have questioned the credibility of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between ODM and UDA in early 2025, arguing that it compromises the party’s opposition identity.
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