- The ODM Nairobi branch has approved Winnie Odinga as the party’s deputy leader after consultations held in all 17 states
- Makadara Member of Parliament, George Aladwa, said that the death of Raila Odinga left Nairobi without a representative in the top leadership of the party, which led ODM to endorse Winnie as the new representative of the city.
- Currently, the Orange party has three deputy party leaders: Governors Abdulswamad Shariff (Mombasa), Simba Arati (Kisii) and Vihiga senator Godfrey Osotsi
The Member of Parliament for Embakasi East, Babu Owino, has responded to the action of ODM officials in Nairobi to approve the Member of Parliament of the East African Parliament (EALA), Winnie Odingato be the fourth deputy leader of the party.
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Winnie was recommended for the top position by the officials of the ODM Nairobi branch led by the county chairman and Makadara Member of Parliament, George Aladwa, in an event held in the city on Tuesday, March 17.
Why was Winnie approved as ODM’s deputy leader?
Aladwa said the decision was reached after a series of consultation meetings in all 17 states of 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 to be the party’s deputy leader.
“Raila Odinga left us without a representative from Nairobi County, and that is why we have had meetings for the last two months to find a replacement. We have all agreed that Winnie (Odinga) will represent us as the deputy leader of the party,” said Aladwa.
Raila died on 15 October 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.
While Abdulswamad and Arati fully support Oburu’s leadership, Osotsi seems to be going in a different direction with the Nairobi senator. Edwin Sifuna and Grandpa Owino.
Sifuna was removed as secretary general of the centre-left political party at a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in February, but challenged the decision before an arbitration court and was reinstated.
How did Grandpa Owino respond to Winnie’s decision?
Initially, Winnie was on the side of this group, but her decision to accept the nomination to be the deputy of Oburu, who is her uncle, shows that she may have changed her political position.
Responding to the development, Babu, who had been approved to replace Sifuna as general secretary, warned the EALA MP against joining the “shrinking pool”.
He used the example of a turtle living in a small pond thinking it was the largest body of water in the world. However, when he was taken to the sea, he realized that there is a larger area of water than the pool.
“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 member of parliament who is aiming for the Nairobi governor’s seat in 2027.
Rejecting the proposal to become the general secretary, Babu insisted that he can only be the leader of the party.
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