ODM issues Notice for Special Delegates Convention

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has convened a Special Delegates Convention later this month in Nairobi. In a formal notice dated March 5, 2026, the party’s Deputy Secretary General Catherine Omanyo announced that the Special Delegates Convention will be held on March 27 in Nairobi starting at 9a.m. Omanyo said the meeting has been convened pursuant to provisions of the party constitution and will bring together senior officials and delegates drawn from the party’s various organs, including members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), the Parliamentary group, Governors, County Assembly leaders and representatives of the party’s youth, women and disability leagues. The agenda will include ratification of a National Governing Council (NGC) resolution on party leadership, consideration of a NEC resolution on Article 87 of the party constitution and an address by the party leader. The notice effectively sets the stage for what could be a decisive moment for ODM as factions within the party jostle for control and direction. The convention is being organised under Omanyo’s watch after the ODM NEC last month resolved to remove Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna from the powerful Secretary General position. The planned convention comes amid sustained pressure from a section of leaders within the party who had been pushing for its immediate calling to address leadership, governance and coalition issues. Among these included late longtime party leader Raila Odinga’s daughter Winnie Odinga, who recently raised sharp concerns over how the ODM leadership transition was handled following her father’s death. Winnie accused sections of the political outfit of sidelining members, flouting its constitution, and conducting critical decisions behind closed doors. The dispute has now, however, crystallised into two competing factions within ODM. One camp, known as ‘Linda Ground,’ is aligned with Dr. Oburu and is viewed as supportive of a broad-based political arrangement that could see the party cooperate with President William Ruto’s camp ahead of the 2027 General Election. The opposing group, dubbed ‘Linda Mwananchi,’ is associated with Sifuna and several other ODM leaders among them Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Siaya Governor James Orengo, who oppose closer ties with the ruling coalition and insist the party should remain firmly in the opposition.