ODM Faces Rift as Majority Back Sifuna’s “Linda Mwananchi” Over Oburu’s Leadership.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), one of Kenya’s major political parties, is grappling with a deepening internal division following the death of its founding leader, Raila Odinga. A recent TIFA survey reveals that the majority of party supporters are rallying behind Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi faction, signaling growing dissatisfaction with the leadership of Oburu Oginga and the party’s continued cooperation with the government.

ODM Split Deepens: Support Swings to Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi.

The TIFA survey indicates that 73% of ODM supporters now back Sifuna’s faction, compared to just 24% for Oburu’s Linda Ground. According to the pollster, “ODM supporters appear to favour a more independent, people-centred opposition approach rather than closer cooperation with the government,” reflecting a broader sentiment at the grassroots level for leaders who defend public interest and hold the government accountable.

The split in ODM emerged after the death of Raila Odinga on October 15, 2025, at Devamatha Hospital in India. Oburu, the late leader’s elder brother, assumed party leadership amid protests from some party members. While Oburu’s faction maintains support for the broad-based government agreement with President William Ruto, Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi calls for party autonomy, allowing ODM to distance itself from the Kenya Kwanza administration.

The TIFA survey further highlights that the agreement between Odinga and Ruto has sparked widespread discontent, with 56% of Kenyans opposing it and only 30% in support. Support for the deal has sharply declined nationwide since August 2025, though it remains relatively steady in Northern Kenya. Only Oburu’s Linda Ground faction continues to back the government pact, while they are reportedly seeking a new negotiation framework with President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

As Kenya heads toward the 2027 general election, the ODM rift is likely to influence the party’s strategy and public perception, with grassroots supporters clearly signalling their preference for an independent, opposition-driven approach.