LEAVE OMOLOO ALONE: ODM Lawmakers Defy Oburu & Wanga to Back Interior PS on Ruto Deal

Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo has drawn fierce backing from a section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmakers, exposing a sharp ideological fracture within the opposition party over its engagement with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

During a high-profile gathering in Gem, MPs including Elisha Odhiambo and Gideon Ochanda publicly defended PS Omollo following his assertion that the Luo community should rally behind the President’s re-election without imposing rigid pre-election conditions.

The legislators argued that political partnerships are far better anchored on social trust and regional goodwill than on bureaucratic contracts that risk complicating bilateral development goals.

The public defence of the Interior PS directly counters hardline demands championed by senior Orange House figures who insist on a formal, written 50-50 power-sharing agreement before endorsing a unified ticket.

While party stalwarts like Oburu Oginga and Gladys Wanga continue to push for explicit guarantees covering Cabinet allocations and strategic state dockets, Omollo’s allies contend that imposing aggressive conditions is a tactical error.

They warn that demanding rigid legal pacts could undermine the substantial infrastructure projects and agricultural investments currently being rolled out across Nyanza under the broad-based governance framework.

The emerging rift highlights a strategic conflict between regional pragmatic leaders and central party strategists who are eager to leverage their voting bloc for institutional leverage.

By insisting that development dividends and appointments will naturally flow from unconditional cooperation, PS Omollo and his legislative backers are attempting to bypass traditional party gatekeepers.

This posture provides executive handlers with valuable political cover, demonstrating that significant grassroots support exists for an informal, performance-based alliance ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Ultimately, the clash over PS Omollo’s remarks signals an escalating contest for operational control of the broad-based government’s regional footprint.

As technical negotiation teams attempt to draft unified policy manifestos, the open defiance by pro-government ODM MPs threatens to weaken Orange House’s collective bargaining position.

How effectively party organs reconcile these competing approaches between transactional power-sharing deals and direct government cooperation will dictate the strength of the ruling coalition’s footprint in Nyanza heading into the 2027 polls.

Source: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/politics/article/2001561302/mps-defend-ps-omollo-over-remarks-on-uda-odm-pact

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