"ODM Was Weakened Long Time Ago" Claims Lawyer Willis Otieno, Sends a Message to the Leaders

Renowned constitutional lawyer and Safina Deputy Party Leader Willis Otieno has asserted that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has been significantly weakened for years, long before recent developments eroded its standing further.

In his sharp critique, Otieno argues that ODM's decline stems from prolonged internal challenges, leadership compromises, and a gradual shift away from its core reformist ideals toward elite-driven arrangements.

He maintains that the party's current trajectory marked by power-sharing negotiations with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is merely accelerating an already advanced process of erosion.

Otieno has repeatedly highlighted how ODM's involvement in government structures has blurred its opposition identity, making it appear as a co-owner of the administration's shortcomings rather than a check on power.

He points to ongoing talks around mergers, cabinet positions, and influence-sharing as evidence of misplaced priorities.

"The ODM-UDA merger is not about the people but about individual positions; that's why you see them every day talking about what they will get, not what the people will get," Otieno stated in a widely shared post earlier this year. "Victory is about the people, not about positions. Getting power when people are dying in hospitals because of poor healthcare daily is not victory."

Otieno sends a pointed message to ODM leaders, including Raila Odinga and senior figures engaged in these discussions: refocus on citizens' welfare over personal or factional gains.

He urges the party to reclaim its founding mission of championing socio-economic rights, accountability, and genuine reform instead of pursuing what he describes as self-serving bargains that ignore widespread hardships like high living costs, inadequate healthcare, and institutional decay.

As Safina's deputy leader, Otieno has positioned himself as a vocal critic of both the government and traditional opposition parties, consistently calling for politics rooted in ideology and public interest rather than legacy alignments or short-term deals.

His comments reflect growing disillusionment among some former ODM supporters who feel the party has drifted from its people-centered roots amid Kenya's evolving political landscape ahead of 2027 elections.