“I don’t care whether somebody goes and declares himself party leader; you can be a party leader of the trees, you can be a party leader of the birds, but you’re certainly not the party leader of ODM,” Oburu tells off Orengo over ODM leadership claims

A fierce leadership dispute has erupted within the Orange Democratic Movement, with party leader Oburu Odinga dismissing claims by Siaya Governor James Orengo that he is unfit to lead the party.

Speaking in Siaya on April 24, Oburu insisted that his leadership is legitimate, maintaining that he was duly elected through the party’s structures following the death of his brother, Raila Odinga. 

He rejected calls to step down, saying he would not be intimidated by dissenting voices within ODM.

“Kisumu is not a city of goonism. The people here are welcoming and focused on building their livelihoods,” Orengo said, pushing back against what he termed a blanket narrative that risks stigmatizing an entire region.

The governor’s remarks came in response to Murkomen’s recent appearance before Parliament, where the Interior CS raised alarm over the rise of organised criminal gangs across the country. 

Murkomen told lawmakers that more than 100 gangs had been identified nationwide, with activities ranging from drug trafficking and illicit alcohol trade to land invasions and extortion.

While Murkomen did not single out Kisumu as the sole hotspot, Orengo argued that associating the city with criminal networks paints an unfair picture and undermines its reputation as a growing economic and cultural hub in western Kenya.

He further cautioned that isolated criminal incidents should not be used to generalise about entire communities. 

Referring to a recent incident cited in the discussion, Orengo maintained it was a standalone case and not reflective of the broader population.

In a pointed remark, the governor challenged Murkomen’s assertions by suggesting that if Kisumu were truly a centre of organised crime, it would warrant far more drastic security interventions. 

His comments underscored growing political tensions over how security issues are framed and communicated to the public.

On his part, Murkomen has maintained that the threat posed by organised gangs is real and evolving. 

He warned that some criminal networks are increasingly sophisticated and, in some cases, benefit from political protection that hampers law enforcement efforts.

To address the situation, the government has outlined plans to strengthen security infrastructure, including enhanced surveillance systems, improved communication tools for police officers, and the establishment of regional command centres across the country.

Despite these measures, Orengo urged the national government to adopt a more balanced approach that prioritises community trust. 

He warned that branding cities negatively could deepen divisions and erode cooperation between citizens and security agencies.