The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has lost two elected leaders to a smaller rival in its own backyard. Teso North MP Oku Kaunya and Alego Central Ward MCA David Ragen joined the Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The two were received at MDG's headquarters in Upper Hill, Nairobi, by party leader and Ugenya MP David Ochieng'. More than 500 aspirants from 17 counties also attended. They said they would seek elective seats on the MDG ticket in the 2027 General Election.

Why Kaunya left

According to The Star and People Daily, Kaunya blamed his exit on ODM's internal leadership and on the way the party runs its elections. He said its internal polls were flawed and that it no longer upheld democratic principles. Photos from the ceremony show Ochieng' placing an MDG cap on the Teso North legislator.

Ragen's exit stings ODM more locally. Alego Central is in Siaya County, the home of the Odinga family and a long-time ODM stronghold. Ochieng', who beat an ODM-backed candidate in a Ugenya by-election, has signalled interest in the Siaya governorship and has rejected calls to fold MDG into ODM.

'MDG will field candidates across the country'

Ochieng' said MDG would contest every elective position in 2027 except the presidency. "We are not going to cede any ground," he told the gathering. He added: "MDG will field candidates across the country."

He also accused some political parties of agreeing to zoning deals meant to keep rival parties out of certain regions. He did not name the parties.

The Ugenya MP said every prospective candidate would face strict integrity checks before being cleared to run.

He also challenged opposition leaders to offer practical alternatives to President William Ruto's development agenda instead of only criticising it. He cited opposition resistance to the proposed Dangote-led oil refinery at the Coast and to the Rironi-Mau Summit highway.

A crowded field in Nyanza and Western

The defections add to the pressure on ODM, which is trying to hold its traditional bases since the death of its founder, Raila Odinga. The party led by Oburu Oginga is negotiating a possible 2027 pact with Ruto's UDA. At the same time, it is losing ground to Senator Edwin Sifuna's Linda Mwananchi movement and to smaller outfits such as MDG.

The movement runs both ways. Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and former West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio both joined ODM this week.

ODM had not publicly responded to the defections of Kaunya and Ragen by the time of publication.

Photos: People Daily/Brian Amwai; The Star (Handout). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.