Divisions inside ODM over whether the party should demand a written agreement before backing President William Ruto's 2027 re-election bid have spilled into the open, as party chairperson Gladys Wanga on Thursday visited party leader Oburu Oginga at his Nairobi home and said he was recovering well.

Wanga, who is also the Homa Bay Governor, shared photos of the two going through the day's newspapers. "Catching up with my party leader Dr Oburu Oginga earlier today. Happy to see him strong and in very high spirits," she said, according to People Daily and The Star.

Oburu, 83, was discharged from Nairobi Hospital on October 19 and has been under doctors' orders to rest and avoid public events. He missed the October 15 memorial in Bondo marking a year since the death of his brother, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Raila Odinga Junior visited him on Tuesday, and deputy party leader Simba Arati did so last week.

Two camps

The visit comes as ODM lawmakers split into two camps over the shape of the party's relationship with Ruto's UDA, The Star reported.

  • Unconditional support: Uriri MP Mark Nyamita and Nyando MP Jared Okelo argue Ruto has already shown goodwill through roads, markets and Cabinet slots, and that past written deals with Presidents Moi and Kibaki were not honoured.
  • Written pact: Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi, Migori Woman Rep Fatuma Mohammed and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang' say ODM needs guarantees, warning that other regions could sign away top positions.

"There is no goodwill in politics," said Atandi, who chairs the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Fatuma Mohammed said the party would not accept a "come-we-stay" arrangement and wanted "a marriage certificate."

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma said a joint broad-based committee, co-chaired by Carey Orege of ODM and Emmanuel Nzai of UDA, was still negotiating and would produce a written agreement. The committee briefed both parties on its progress on Thursday.

Omollo remarks stir anger

The row was sparked last weekend by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, who cautioned leaders against putting conditions on the President and urged voters to back him on his development record. "We must not put conditions on him," Omollo said.

According to The Eastleigh Voice, citing party insiders, ODM officials angered by the remarks plan to issue fresh demands at a rally at Jacaranda Grounds in Nairobi on Saturday. They reportedly want the President to keep his distance from Nyanza leaders accused of undermining the partnership and to bar some government officials from campaigning in ODM strongholds. Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi is said to have met Oburu on Wednesday over the matter.

What is at stake

ODM has previously floated demands including the deputy president slot and a 50-50 share of government. The party has not officially confirmed what will be said on Saturday, and Oburu has defended the broad-based arrangement as "a sophisticated, deliberate continuation" of the party's struggle rather than a betrayal.

Photos: People Daily/@gladyswanga on X (Wanga and Oburu); The Star (file, ODM leaders). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.