Ruth and Winnie’s Absence at Jacaranda Fuels Talk of ODM Family Split

The conspicuous absence of Kisumu Woman Rep Ruth Odinga and EALA MP Winnie Odinga from ODM’s Jacaranda rally has stirred speculation about a brewing family‑level rift inside the party.

Locally, ODM supporters in Kisumu and Homa Bay were quick to notice the no‑show. Traders at Kibuye market openly asked why Raila’s closest kin skipped the climax of Mwezi wa Baba, a month‑long programme meant to honor his legacy. “If Baba’s own family is missing, what message does that send to the rest of us?” one supporter asked.

Both Ruth and Winnie have recently voiced discomfort with ODM’s cooperation with President Ruto’s broad‑based government. Their absence now adds weight to whispers that the Odinga household itself is split on the party’s direction.

Winnie’s declared ambition for the Nairobi Senate seat in 2027 further complicates matters. Her positioning could align her with Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi Movement, which has already staged rallies at the same Jacaranda venue. Ruth, meanwhile, has been more guarded but equally critical of ODM’s current strategy.

For ODM, the optics are damaging. A rally meant to showcase unity instead highlighted cracks at the very top. For supporters in Nyanza, the question is no longer whether ODM can hold together nationally — but whether Raila’s own family remains united behind the party he built.

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