Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has dismissed the existence of frictions between the ruling party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and coalition partners Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Speaking during a live interview on Thursday, April 24, 2025, Nyamu emphasised that the criticism of the broad-based system of government by a section of the ODM-allied governors stems from a power shift within the party following the political pact between William Ruto and Raila Odinga.
“We had a meeting with the Deputy President and Nairobi legislators, who are predominantly ODM, on Wednesday evening. You know Nairobi is predominantly ODM. I can tell you the broad-based arrangement is compact and working. We are speaking with one voice. There may be a few errant voices here and there, as politics is about interests,” she said.
Nyamu claims that the dissenting voices to the government policies are from the individuals battling isolation after losing influential positions within the hierarchy of the party.
“That could point to the discomfort they could be feeling because they have been enjoying seniority and popularity all along. But now come broad-based, the likes of (Opiyo) Wandayi, (Wycliffe) Oparanya, and (Hassan) Joho are above them. These point to the discomfort where they feel isolated from the arrangement,” she stated.
Additionally, Nyamu believes the wider backlash received by the critics is testament to the opinions of a minority.
“The Luo professionals in Siaya have threatened to impeach Orengo over utterances he made against President Ruto, and that tells you that these criticisms are not just an exclusive ODM affair. The voices are just errant voices from the few in the whole arrangement and not from the mainstream of the party,” she added.
Nyamu’s sentiments come as the Orange party seems to be grappling with an internal division, with a section of politicians registering their dissatisfaction with Kenya Kwanza and pushing the party to cut off links with Ruto’s administration.
The calls initially led by outspoken legislators like Babu Owino and Senator Edwin Sifuna appear to be gaining traction, with Anyang Nyong’o the latest governor to join the bandwagon.
Nyong’o, a high-ranking official of the ODM party, recently tore into Kenya Kwanza’s policy, accusing the Ruto-led regime of attempts to undermine devolution.
In a scathing attack and through a statement titled ‘Allow Governors to Manage Devolution’, Nyong’o made reference to the ongoing spat between the county governments and the central government over the management of road funds.
“The truth is that the Ruto regime has decided to go back to pre-devolution times of the Nyayo era,” he said.
The Kisumu governor’s sentiment mirrored those of his Siaya counterpart, James Orengo, who has been a strong critic of the government over various governance