Uhuru's Misstep Lands Him in Trouble With ODM Leaders as Party Moves to Block Changes

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has landed in fresh trouble with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders after the party openly rejected Azimio coalition leadership changes linked to a meeting he chaired earlier this week.

ODM, in a strongly worded letter dated February 5 and addressed to the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), protested what it termed as unlawful and unconstitutional alterations to the Azimio coalition’s leadership structure.

The changes, ODM argues, were Uhuru’s major misstep that triggered the standoff within the opposition coalition. 

According to the letter signed by ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen, a meeting of the Azimio Coalition Council held on February 2 resolved to make key leadership changes, including appointing new office bearers, without the knowledge or consent of ODM’s party leader, Oburu Odinga.

ODM maintains that Oburu, as a principal in the coalition, was sidelined in a process that should have required collective agreement.

“The appointment and removal of members of the coalition council, including the secretary general, is a collective preserve of the party leaders of the coalition’s constituent parties,” ODM stated, adding that no single leader or faction has the authority to act unilaterally.

The party cited Article 6 of the Azimio Deed of Agreement, which outlines that the coalition council comprises 11 members and that any appointments or removals must be agreed upon by all party leaders.

These include Jubilee Party, ODM, Wiper Democratic Movement, and authorised representatives of the Mwanzo Mpya Caucus.

The disputed changes saw Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka named as Azimio Party Leader, Suba MP Caroli Omondi appointed Secretary General, and former Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia named Executive Director, during a meeting chaired by Uhuru.

ODM has now asked the ORPP to suspend and freeze the implementation of all resolutions made during the controversial meeting until strict adherence to the coalition agreement is observed.

The dispute comes barely days after Azimio announced a major reorganisation aimed at strengthening its political machinery ahead of the 2027 General Election, exposing fresh cracks within the opposition alliance and raising questions about its unity going forward.