- Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga convened a meeting with ODM women leaders on Thursday, October 22, reaffirming unity within the party
- The gathering took place as internal tensions mounted, with a section of ODM members defecting to the Linda Mwananchi movement
- Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo was notably absent from the meeting, amid her ongoing public dispute with Wanga
Nancy Odindo is a Current Affairs Editor at TUKO.co.ke, covering political and world news. Odindo has over six years of journalism experience and joined TUKO.co.ke in 2023.
Homa Bay governor and ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga convened a meeting with the party's women leaders on Thursday, October 22, calling for unity at a time when the party is grappling with growing internal divisions.
Source: Facebook
Wanga announced the gathering on her Facebook page, describing it as an opportunity to reaffirm shared commitment to the party.
"Our women leaders have remained steadfast in their support for the ODM Party through every season. It was a pleasure catching up with them earlier today and reaffirming our shared commitment," she wrote, adding that the group's resolve, unity, and commitment remained firm.
ODM also weighed in on the significance of the occasion, framing it around the memory of party patriarch and former premier Raila Odinga.
"Baba taught us to love one another. He told us that united we stand and divided we fall. And in this month, Mwezi wa Baba, we shall endeavour to demonstrate that unity is everything," the party posted, tagging Wanga and adding the hashtag #tukotayari.
Millie Odhiambo's absence draws attention
The meeting drew attention not only for what was said but also for who was missing. Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo did not attend the session, her absence coming against the backdrop of a well-publicised rift between herself and Wanga.
Odhiambo previously accused the governor of sending her associates to disrupt events she organises in her constituency.
While the MP had stated that she has no interest in the Homa Bay governorship, she made clear that her conflict with Wanga will persist publicly if the governor continues what she described as disrespectful conduct.
Odhiambo has also been accused by some party figures of sitting on the fence amid the current political turbulence within ODM.
Her absence at the meeting sparked speculation even as a section of Kenyans congratulated Wanga for bringing together the leaders, including those who had expressed outrage against her, such as Kisumu woman representative Ruth Odinga and Homa Bay's Joyce Bensouda.
Neither Odhiambo nor the party clarified her absence at the time of this publication.
Source: Facebook
ODM battling internal defections
Meanwhile, the women leaders' meeting came at a particularly sensitive moment for the party, with a faction of ODM members breaking away to align with the Linda Mwananchi Movement.
The movement, led by a section of ODM leaders who fell out with the party's mainstream, including Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna, has attracted members from within the party's traditional strongholds and across the country.
Wanga's push to rally women leaders around the party's unity message appears to be a direct response to the threat of further fragmentation, as ODM seeks to consolidate its base ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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