- Alego Usonga Member of Parliament, Samuel Atandi, says ODM is bigger than individual leaders and cannot fall if Edwin Sifuna or Babu Owino leave
- Atandi said that supporting President William Ruto’s government is a personal choice and should not be used to judge loyalty to ODM
- He expressed confidence that Babu remains strong in ODM, stressing that the Embakasi East Member of Parliament is only looking at the leadership of the party
- Atandi rejected Siaya’s bid for governorship in 2027, explaining why he will defend his parliamentary seat instead
Alego Usonga Member of Parliament, Samuel Atandi, has dismissed allegations that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) may collapse if some of its key members choose to leave the party.
Source: Facebook
Speaking during an interview on Ramogi TV on Wednesday, January 20, Atandi said ODM remains strong even as the secretary general of the party. Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino will decide to plan a different political path.
According to Atandi, Babu and Sifuna’s decision not to support the President’s government William Ruto or broader work arrangement is a personal choice that should be respected.
“They have their own reasons. Maybe they don’t see the benefits of being in government. But other party members like me see that supporting the president is a good thing. If they don’t see the benefits, they will just leave us and go out,” Atandi said.
The MP emphasized that the departure of individual leaders will not weaken the party.
“If Sifuna leaves the party, that does not mean ODM will fall. He is only one person. If he leaves, others will continue,” he added.
Can Babu Owino leave ODM?
However, Atandi expressed confidence that Babu Owino is unlikely to leave ODM, describing him as a dedicated member of the party with leadership aspirations.
He claimed that Babu is targeting the top leadership of the party, including the possibility of taking over Oburu Odingawhich in his opinion shows loyalty rather than rebellion.
“When we attend the National Delegates Conference (NDC) and he unsuccessfully tries to become the leader of the party, that’s when I will know that he is no longer a member of ODM. But for now, I know that he is a member who is just trying to show his interest in a leadership position,” he said.
However, Atandi insisted that even if both leaders leave, ODM will remain the same.
“But what I emphasize is that if Sifuna and Babu leave ODM, nothing can go wrong. They are just two people,” he added.
Will Atandi run for Siaya governorship in 2027?
Turning to the politics of Siaya county, Atandi refused to run for governorship in 2027, saying his goal will be to defend his parliamentary seat of Alego Usonga.
He noted that the gubernatorial race is already crowded, with several candidates lining up early.
Source: Facebook
Atandi further emphasized that his experience would be useful in Parliament, especially if many senior ODM MPs fail to retain their seats.
“A new member of parliament cannot even be the chairman of the Budget Committee. If I am re-elected to Parliament, and other areas bring in first-term members of parliament, how can they lead me? I will have to lead them,” he said.
He added that experienced parliamentarians are important when discussing power-sharing positions within the government.
“When we enter into a coalition with Ruto’s government, and he says that ODM will be given a majority leader for example, there must be strong members of parliament who are aware of these issues to grab those positions. But if you bring in new leaders, you cannot get those positions,” Atandi said.
Atandi added that getting a third term in Parliament will put him in influential positions which he intends to use to promote development in his state.
Does Babu Owino have a chance to lead ODM?
In a related incident, Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed dismissed claims that Babu could take the leadership of ODM through the NDC, saying the party’s structures do not support such an outcome.
Junet, who used to be the election director of ODM, admitted that although Babu kept talking about calling the NDC and following the leadership of the party, his positions within the leadership of the party were limited.
However, he noted that Babu had a great chance of defeating the Nairobi Governor Johnson in the 2027 General Election.
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