- The ODM Nairobi branch nominated Winnie Odinga as the party’s deputy leader after consultations in 17 states
- MP George Aladwa said Raila’s death gave way to the representation of Nairobi, causing the party to approve Winnie as the new representative.
- Currently, the Orange party has three deputy party leaders: Governors Abdulswamad Shariff (Mombasa), Simba Arati (Kisii) and Vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi
Member of Parliament for Embakasi East Babu Owino has responded to the move by ODM officials in Nairobi to approve the Member of Parliament for East Africa (EALA) Winnie Odinga as the fourth deputy leader of the party.
Source: Facebook
Winnie was recommended to compete for the top position by the officials of the ODM branch in Nairobi, led by the county chairman and MP for Makadara George Aladwa, in an event held in the city on Tuesday, March 17.
Why was Winnie approved as the deputy leader of the ODM party?
Aladwa said the decision was reached after a series of consultation meetings were held in 17 constituencies in Nairobi County.
He revealed that ODM did not have a representative from Nairobi in its top decision-making bodies, hence the decision to recommend Winnie to represent the county and also serve as the party’s deputy leader.
“Raila Odinga left us without a representative from Nairobi county, and that is why we have held a series of meetings for the past two months to find a replacement. We have all agreed that Winnie (Odinga) will represent us as the party’s deputy leader,” said Aladwa.
Raila died on October 15, 2025, after leading ODM for 20 years since its inception in 2005. He was succeeded by his elder brother and Siaya senator Oburu Oginga.
Currently, the Orange party has three deputy party leaders: Governors Abdulswamad Shariff (Mombasa), Simba Arati (Kisii) and Vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi.
With Abdulswamad and Arati right behind Oburu, Osotsi is heading in the opposite direction with the Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna and Grandpa Owino.
Sifuna was sacked as secretary general of the centre-left political party during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in February, but challenged the decision in court and regained his post.
How did Babu Owino react to Winnie’s decision?
Initially Winnie was an ally of this camp, but her decision to accept the endorsement of succeeding Oburu, her uncle, is a clear sign that she may have changed her allegiance.
Reacting to this incident, Babu, who had been approved to replace Sifuna as the senior SG, warned the EALA MP against joining the “shrinking pool”.
He used the example of a turtle that lived in a small pond, thinking that it was the largest pond that ever existed on earth. However, when he was taken to the sea, he discovered that there was a larger pool of water than a pond.
“I would like to tell Winnie that she is bigger than a pond, she should join the sea, and this is where the sea is,” said the second-term lawmaker who is running for the governorship of Nairobi in 2027.
In rejecting the proposal to become the General Secretary, Babu insisted that he could only be the party leader of the party.
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
