Rift deepens as Cherargei rips into ODM bigwigs for sabotaging Raila-Ruto pact

The political tension in the country continues to mount as Nandi Senator Samson Kiprotich Cherargei delivered a sharp rebuke to key figures in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), accusing them of undermining the collaboration between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Cherargei’s comments come in the wake of a controversial letter from Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, which has sparked a backlash across the political spectrum.

During an appearance on a morning TV show on Thursday, April 24, 2025, Cherargei, a staunch supporter of the ruling coalition, criticised Nyong’o, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna for sabotaging the broad-based government arrangement between Ruto and Odinga.

“If a hippopotamus tells you the crocodile is unwell, there is nothing else to say because most of my colleagues have alluded that the good professor is playing cheap populist. And when I read that letter, I found it does not have basis, it is more of populism, it is more of pedestrian,” Cherargei remarked, referring to Nyong’o.

He further emphasised that the letter from the Kisumu governor was populist and lacked substance.

“These are saboteurs of broad-based arrangement – him, Orengo and Sifuna. They have been trying in all means to sabotage the broad-based arrangement government which has undermined the success, the stability of a number of serious projects that are ongoing in Nyanza region,” Cherargei lamented.

The Nandi senator expressed frustration at what he perceives as ingratitude from the ODM leaders.

Despite Nyong’o’s complaints, Cherargei highlighted the tangible benefits that the Nyanza region has received under the Raila-Ruto pact.

He humorously pointed out that the government’s money ‘sleeps’ in Nyanza, referencing the role of National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who hails from the region.

Cherargei cited several projects and appointments that have been made possible through the current government, including the appointment of late CDF Ogolla and Mbadi’s own role in the government.

“He is telling us that we are going back to Nyayo era, yet Nyanza for the first time has gotten very serious projects, number one, number two has gotten very senior appointments, including may his soul rest in peace CDF Ogolla, we now have chairman of budget and finance coming from that region, we now have a CS of money John Mbadi – pesa inalala kule Nyanza,” Cherargei said.

In a more critical tone, Cherargei demanded an apology from Nyong’o for his remarks, accusing him of blackmailing the president.

The Nandi senator also called on Raila Odinga to intervene and rein ODM rebels who are subotaging the broadbased arrangement.

“Governor Nyong’o, Governor Orengo and Senator Sifuna must stop blackmailing the president. And I want to ask with respect, his excellency Prime Minister Raila Odinga, that he must call out Governor Nyong’o, Governor Orengo, and Senator Sifuna for these incessant and irritant blackmail,” Cherargei said.

Nyong’o’s rebuke of Ruto administration

The dispute began earlier this week when Governor Nyong’o, in a letter dated April 22, 2025, expressed concerns about the national government’s apparent attempts to undermine devolution gains.

Nyong’o argued that county governments, which had been entrusted with significant responsibilities since the advent of devolution, were being sidelined in key areas, particularly in road management.

He contended that the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERA) should no longer exist if the national government were committed to fully implementing devolution.

Additionally, Nyong’o lamented the state of health management, emphasising that county governments had been effective in managing healthcare, while the national government, especially in the case of Kenyatta National Hospital, had struggled.

He accused the Ruto administration of trying to reverse the devolution gains, likening the situation to the pre-devolution Nyayo era.

“The 2010 constitution is a hindrance to its primitive accumulation schemes, which will affect not only devolution but the very ethos of building a national democratic and developmental state,” Nyong’o asserted.

Nyong’o’s letter also called on the Council of Governors (CoG) and all progressive forces to stand firm in resisting any attempts to dismantle the gains made since the Second Liberation.

His statement underscored the gravity of the situation, with Nyong’o urging unity against the perceived threats to devolution.

Allies turn on each other

The rift between ODM leaders and government supporters like Cherargei has exposed a growing divide within the political landscape, especially within the coalition government.

While the alliance between Raila Odinga and President Ruto was initially heralded as a step toward national unity and progress, it is now being tested by differing views on governance and the implementation of devolution.

As Nyong’o push for a stronger role for county governments and caution against centralisation, figures like Cherargei and other allies of the ruling administration are pushing back, highlighting what they see as unwarranted criticism and divisiveness.

The political infighting within the ODM camp, combined with public disagreements over how power should be shared between the national government and the counties, could have significant implications for the country’s political future.

As the country navigates these complex dynamics, it remains to be seen whether Raila Odinga will take a more direct role in quelling the unrest within his party.

The ongoing spat is a reminder of the volatile nature of Kenyan politics, where alliances can shift rapidly, and the cost of public infighting can be high.