Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has sounded an alarm over the growing ties between the government and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), predicting that President William Ruto plans to swallow the opposition party entirely rather than partner with it.
Speaking during a television interview on Thursday, April 16, 2026, the vocal legislator argued that the president harbors ulterior motives aimed at dismantling ODM’s independence.
Amisi contends that the Head of State wants to erode the party’s strength until it loses its national significance. According to this theory, the strategy aims to leave ODM so fragile by the 2027 general election that it cannot survive as a standalone entity, forcing its remnants to seek shelter within a single massive political machine led by the president.
“William Ruto is not going to form a coalition with ODM. William Ruto is going to the next election with one party. There will be no ODM in 2027,” he said.
The lawmaker believes this consolidation would eliminate any serious competition, allowing the president to face the polls under a unified banner without the complications of a multi-party coalition. His comments highlight a deepening anxiety within some quarters of the opposition that the current “broad-based government” arrangement might actually serve as a Trojan horse to neutralize one of Kenya’s oldest and most influential political movements.
Amisi further suggests that the looming collapse of the party has demoralized its ranks, leading some members to abandon their political ambitions for 2027. He claims these politicians feel their primary political vehicle has suffered irreparable damage, leaving them with no viable platform to contest seats.
Echoing this sentiment, Siaya Governor James Orengo lamented the steady erosion of the movement, stating that the very legacy Raila Odinga spent decades building is being dismantled piece by piece. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna joined the chorus of disappointment, expressing deep frustration over the party’s current trajectory.
Sifuna highlighted the alarming infiltration of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) into traditional Orange strongholds. He pointed to Homa Bay as a startling example of this decline, noting that the party’s once-unrivaled dominance has faded to the point where leaders are now pleading for “zoning” to protect their territory.
“For the first time, I have never heard of zoning in Homa Bay. We have reached a place where we are asking for zoning in Homa Bay; when ODM was strong, we never cared who ran against us,” he stated.
According to the senator, the mere mention of zoning in the heart of Luo Nyanza signals a profound loss of confidence, marking a sharp departure from an era when the party welcomed all challengers without fear.
