Caleb Amisi Raises Alarm Over ODM Divisions After Oburu’s 2027 Remarks

Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi has cautioned leaders of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) against escalating internal rivalries, warning that growing factionalism could threaten the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking on his official X account on Thursday, January 1, 2026, Amisi expressed concern over what he described as “chest-thumping” and public confrontations among ODM leaders, warning that such behaviour undermines the party’s long-standing culture of cohesion under its late leader, Raila Odinga.

“ODM leaders must avoid this tendency of chest-thumping. All factions therein—whether the Uhuru wing or the Ruto wing—this is not how Baba would do it,” Amisi wrote.

The lawmaker’s warning follows remarks by ODM party leader Oburu Odinga, who declared that he would automatically become the party’s presidential candidate should ODM decide to contest the 2027 elections independently, citing the party constitution.

“If we are going it alone, I want to make it absolutely clear that our constitution already has a presidential candidate for our party. That presidential candidate is clearly stated in the constitution, and it is the party leader. I am the party leader speaking. I am the presidential candidate for ODM if ODM decides to go it alone,” Oburu said during a New Year address.

He further cautioned party members against pursuing parallel presidential ambitions under the ODM banner, stating that anyone seeking the presidency through another arrangement should look elsewhere.

“So, anybody preparing themselves to go for presidential elections in ODM, I think they are misplaced. If they want to go for presidential candidacy, they should look for another party because the presidential candidate has already been decided by the party constitution,” Oburu added.

Amisi warned that public disagreements, personal attacks, and infighting risk alienating supporters and weakening ODM’s electoral prospects. 

“A small divergence of views; they want to chase members away. Calling each other names. So, who will vote for you as an ODM candidate? Baba must be turning in his grave in dismay! Kenya needs a renaissance,” he wrote.

The Saboti MP’s statement highlights growing unease within the party, as several ODM leaders have engaged in heated exchanges over the party’s direction in the post-Raila era.